August 2025

Summary of activities

W/C 4 Aug 2025 – Project initiation
Set governance, confirm work plan, prepare contacts, and establish project controls.

W/C 4 Aug 2025 – Literature review & technology horizon scan
Start reviewing existing/emerging cooling technologies, water use, and alternative sources.

W/C 18 Aug 2025 – Engagement & interviews
Contact stakeholders, schedule interviews, and collect sector insights.

W/C 1 Sep 2025 – Regulation & governance review
Analyse UK/international policies, planning, and technical standards.

W/C 15 Sep 2025 – Benchmarking framework development
Create metrics to define and assess efficient water use in data centres.

W/C 20 Oct 2025 – Draft report writing
Compile findings into structured draft report for review.

W/C 3 Nov 2025 – Report review & revision
Circulate draft, address feedback, and revise once before finalisation.

W/C 17 Nov 2025 – Final report delivery
Submit the final report, publish the findings, and share them with stakeholders.

12 August 25

The kick-off meeting has been held. The project will focus on appraising water usage in data centres, particularly in relation to cooling technologies. The project’s success will be measured not only by the delivery of a final report but also by its ability to gain access to a minimum of two data centres; this is a clear threshold to ensure the work goes beyond theoretical insight and delivers practical intelligence. Interviews with the data centres will yield real-world, under-the-hood insight into water usage, technology choices, and disaster resilience, rather than just policy or consultancy perspectives. This project aims to be a “breakthrough” moment in gaining insights into data centre operations and water demand. The project will also explore the water–energy–carbon nexus, acknowledging that water-efficient cooling technologies may have trade-offs in terms of energy use and emissions. WRc will coordinate closely with Defra, potentially using their influence to gain access to sites that may see themselves as critical infrastructure/sensitive facilities. Wholesaler and retailer subject matter experts have also requested to be involved in the project. 

30 September 25

 The project has completed an extensive literature review of over 200 sources. Interviews with the data centre sector have provided valuable industry insights, and this will be followed up with direct engagement through planned visits to data centres, which are critical for validating findings against real operations. Opportunities are being explored for policy proposals that build on recommendations from the Independent Water Commission and align with the predicted expansion in data centre number and capacity. Upcoming events in October will provide further chances to engage with industry stakeholders, strengthen evidence, and shape policy recommendations.

January 2026

This project is nearing its conclusion. Its report will be available through a link on this page. It examined what water-efficient operations mean for data centres in England and how they can be encouraged. Using evidence review, stakeholder interviews and MOSL water-use data, it found that most data centres use very little water, but a small number account for a disproportionate share of consumption. The vast majority of data centres sit firmly within the industry definition of Group 2 customer, clustered at the lower end of that category. Only a very small minority approaches higher Group 2 volumes. Current total data-centre water use in England is estimated at 1.88 million m³ per year, about 0.2% of business demand, with clear summer and peak-day risks. The report identifies weak incentives for water efficiency, gaps in reporting, and recommends mandatory, standardised water-use reporting, benchmarking, and policy measures to manage future growth sustainably.