Study explores desalination as a way to cut data centre freshwater use
A University of Texas at Austin study examined whether desalination could allow data centres to use salty or contaminated water for cooling. It assessed costs, energy consumption, and environmental impacts across different scenarios. The research suggests industrial wastewater, including saline water from Texas oil and gas operations, could replace freshwater for cooling as scrutiny of data centre water use grows.
The University of Texas at Austin study, published in Water Research X, modelled desalination and other treatment options for data centre cooling under different scenarios, comparing expense, energy demand and environmental effects. It asks whether saline or polluted industrial flows could substitute for freshwater.
Texas oil and gas activity produces large volumes of salty or contaminated water; the Permian Basin alone generates roughly 1,200 Olympic swimming pools daily. Much is moved long distances and injected underground, raising seismic concerns and limited disposal capacity. The research suggests treating such water for data centres may offer a practical use. State scrutiny has grown: new data centre permits were paused, and existing facilities’ water use is under review.
If treatment systems prove workable, data centre operators and surrounding communities could face less competition for freshwater. Oil and gas producers might gain another route for managing saline byproducts, potentially easing disposal and seismic pressures. Yet added energy and capital costs may influence siting and utility bills. Local officials and regulators may benefit from clearer trade-off data when weighing permits and water allocations.