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New AWWA White Paper Guides Water Utilities in Data Center Planning

On October 28, 2025, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) unveiled a significant resource aimed at assisting water utilities in comprehensively understanding the challenges and opportunities posed by the rise of data centers. Titled Cooling the Cloud: Water Utilities in a Data-Driven World, this white paper is designed to serve as a strategic toolkit for communities wrestling with the escalating demands of data infrastructure.

As digital services expand rapidly, data centers have become crucial consumers of water, which poses potential impacts on local water utilities. The report reveals that to effectively manage the relationship between water resources and data demands, utilities must adapt swiftly due to the unprecedented pace of growth in this sector. In particular, the white paper underscores that managing the needs of data centers presents unique challenges, but the existing expertise within the water sector could be enough to rise to these challenges.

Key Insights from the White Paper

The white paper presents several pivotal insights, including:

• - Proactive Engagement and Collaboration: Utilities are encouraged to engage actively with stakeholders to address risks while supporting long-term sustainability within their systems.
• - Impact of Cooling Technology: The type of cooling technologies selected for data centers has significant implications for both water and energy consumption, indicating a pressing need for careful planning.
• - Practical Examples: Case studies from Loudoun Water (Virginia) and Aurora Water (Colorado) illustrate how pragmatic planning, infrastructure alignment, and policy innovation can enhance utility responses to data centers.
• - Legislative Trends: The paper highlights emerging legislative measures in states such as New York, New Jersey, and Minnesota, which reflect a growing mindset towards regulating water use in the context of data centers.

In the document, AWWA outlines eight strategic planning priorities for water utilities anticipating the arrival and growth of data centers. These priorities focus on evaluating customer impacts, financial modeling, and overall planning methodologies that could help navigate the implications of data center developments.

Contributors to the Report

The contributions to this informative report include insights not just from AWWA but also from industry-leading organizations and experts, such as Arcadis, MITRE, Freshwater Society, Kurita, Tetra Tech, and the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA). This collaboration underscores the necessity for diverse perspectives in addressing the multifaceted issues at hand.

Importance of the AWWA White Paper

Established in 1881, the AWWA is the premier nonprofit scientific and educational organization focused on the responsible management and treatment of water—the planet's most essential resource. With a membership base of approximately 50,000 professionals, AWWA is at the forefront of providing solutions that enhance public health, protect our environment, and bolster economic stability.

This strategic white paper underscores a critical moment for both water utilities and communities, indicating that as they tackle the implications of intensifying data demands, collaboration and innovative approaches will be key. The full white paper can be accessed on the AWWA's official Water Resources Planning and Sustainability page, where utilities are encouraged to leverage this knowledge for improved water management in a data-driven world.

By effectively planning for data centers, water utilities not only ensure the sustainability of their operations but also enhance their capacity to support burgeoning technology sectors within their communities.