Our online world may feel intangible, but it carries a real water footprint.
Jacob Tompkins: Digital water footprint
In the latest episode of the podcast hosted by Michelle Brogan, Jacob Tompkins OBE delves into the pressing issue of global water challenges, particularly focusing on the hidden water use behind digital activities.
The conversation unveils the significant water consumption by data centers, which require substantial amounts of water for cooling purposes, exacerbating water scarcity issues, especially in arid regions. Tompkins highlights the impact of digital consumption on water resources and the ensuing competition for water among various sectors. The discussion explores potential solutions, such as green coding for data efficiency, alternative cooling methods, and water offsetting by tech companies. Emphasizing the importance of consumer awareness and industry action, the episode calls for legislative measures to regulate data center water use and promote sustainable practices.
The dialogue underscores the environmental impact of data centers, advocating for water recycling and reuse, strategic location choices, and the role of tech companies in water conservation. Through this insightful conversation, the podcast aims to enhance public understanding of the water footprint associated with digital consumption and the challenges in balancing water and energy use.
Jacob Tompkins – Water Efficiency Leader & UK Water Policy Advisor
Jacob Tompkins is Managing Director of The European Water Technology Accelerator, driving innovation in water solutions across Europe, and Chief Technology Officer at The Water Retail Company, a UK-based water supplier. A co-founder of Thunderstorm and former director of Waterwise, he has championed water efficiency and sustainable water use. He advises on UK water policy and was awarded an OBE for services to water conservation.
FAQ: Hidden Water Use in Our Digital Lives
Every online activity from streaming music to using AI is powered by data centres. These facilities use large amounts of water to cool their servers. Ten online searches can equal around one litre of water and streaming a two-hour concert can use up to 1,000 litres.
The number of data centres is booming worldwide often in water stressed regions such as deserts or heavily populated areas. By 2030 the water used by data centres could match the daily demand of a major city like Liverpool.
Most rely on evaporative cooling using waters high heat capacity to absorb heat from servers. The water evaporates carrying heat away but consuming huge volumes in the process.
When data centres draw from municipal water supplies, they compete with households agriculture power plants and the environment. This can create cascading failures where water shortages disrupt power food production and ecosystems.
Yes, greener software coding new cooling technologies reusing evaporated water using recycled water from nearby industries siting centres in cooler or water rich areas and even experimenting with underwater data centres.
Green coding means designing software to run more efficiently using less computing power and therefore less cooling water and energy. It is like energy efficiency but for software.
Some tech firms offset water use by fixing leaks in the same watershed where their data centres operate. Done properly this can achieve water neutrality at a local level but it must be carefully verified to avoid double counting.
Large organisations can ask their cloud or data providers about water use choose providers committed to recycling and reusing water and prioritise green software or data storage. They can also support offset programmes within their local catchments.
Yes, by being mindful of data use opting for green apps and services where possible and supporting companies with strong water stewardship. Even reducing unnecessary emails or streaming can help.
Every click has a hidden water cost. We don’t need to feel guilty but we do need to be aware and push for solutions from smarter coding to better cooling technologies. Data drives our future but it shouldn’t drain our water.
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