Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that there are sufficient supplies of water given the increasing number of data centres being constructed; and what plans they have to require that, for every data centre constructed, work is undertaken to increase the water supply.

The Government recognises the need to ensure data centre infrastructure does not compromise the resilience of public water supplies. We are taking steps to ensure that water availability is a key consideration in planning.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that the planning system should take full account of water scarcity. Local plans and decisions should take account of the long-term implications for water supply. The Government encourages data centre developers to contact their proposed water and wastewater supplier early in the planning process. Water companies are not obliged to approve the supply of water for non-domestic uses, such as for data centres, if doing so would require unreasonable expenditure or risk their ability to meet domestic supply obligations.

Modern data centres can also employ cooling methods that use minimal water such as free cooling or advanced closed-loop systems, which only require minimal water top-up. Additionally, data centres can use non-potable or grey water for cooling purposes.

The forthcoming National Policy Statement for data centres will set out environmental criteria – including water supply considerations – for data centre proposals that are taken forward as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

With respect to the Government’s AI Growth Zone (AIGZ) plans, proposals for data centres are required to set out:
(1) the volume of water required;
(2) the availability of that volume and the timeline of delivery; and
(3) any wider infrastructure requirements or constraints

Applications should include a confirmation of the above from the relevant water supplier. This will ensure that AIGZs are delivered where there is sufficient water capacity.

DEFRA is undertaking work to examine how the efficiency of water use in data centres can be improved, as part of the Government’s commitment to reduce the use of public water supply by 20% by 2037/38.