Aug 23, 2022
Thames Water reviews data centres’ water use as London hosepipe ban looms
Thames Water has launched a probe into the impact of data centres on water supplies in and around London as the company is set to impose a hosepipe ban on its 15mn customers in one of the worst drought-hit areas of the UK this week. John Hernon, strategic development manager at Thames Water, said he had launched the review because of the growing demand for data centres particularly in the Slough area, which is set to become the second biggest data centre hub in the world. "It isn't necessary for data centres to use drinking quality water for cooling. We want to look at how raw, non-drinking water can be used and reused," he said. Drought was officially declared in mid-August across much of the UK, including London and the surrounding area, and Thames Water will bring in a hosepipe ban on Wednesday. "The data centres don't want to use rain or river water because they have to get an environmental licence and would also have to clean it up first," Bitterlin said, explaining using untreated water can corrode the equipment or release diseases.
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