The anticipated growth in data centers is of interest to the DRBC because water is essential to their operation. Many data centers directly use water for cooling, to prevent servers and other equipment from overheating, and most indirectly use water due to significant energy needs, where thermoelectric energy generation in turn requires water for cooling.
The development of data centers is a part of technology and industry in the midst of rapid deployment and maturation.
Today's so-called hyperscale data centers are larger and more resource-intensive than existing centers, the better to process larger volumes of data and support the buildout of AI and other advanced technology.
→ DRBC is tracking policy, legislative and technology developments in this rapidly changing space.
→ DRBC's technical staff is tracking planned data centers within the Delaware River Basin to understand and manage potential water resources implications.
- Data Centers in the DRB (pdf; presented at the Oct. 2025 Water Management Advisory Committee meeting)
August 2025
In August, the DRBC's Executive Director shared policy and resource management insights on this emerging industry with the Pennsylvania Senate's Majority Policy Committee.
- Read the testimony here (opens in new window)
October 2025
In October, staff had the opportunity to tour data centers in the Atlanta metro using both water-intensive and water-conservative cooling methods. The tour was part of two days of learning about data centers and other water policy developments at the Interstate Council on Water Policy's annual meeting.
Looking Ahead
The DRBC will continue to track proposed data centers and seek water use information wherever possible.
Additionally, the DRBC is coordinating with colleagues and partners in the Susquehanna and Potomac river basins and with its relevant state agency partners and is evaluating policies to reduce impacts on our shared water resources.
The DRBC can serve as a resource to local governments and officials as they consider data center developments in their communities. Learn more about the potential water resources impacts and role of the DRBC in this emerging industry at the below links.
DRBC Resources
Note: links open in new window.
- Oct. 2, 2025, Green Philly: "Moving Fast and Breaking Climate goals: What Pennsylvania's Data Center boom means for local communities": https://greenphl.com/energy/moving-fast-and-breaking-climate-goals-what-pennsylvanias-data-center-boom-means-for-local-communities/
- Sept. 8, 2025, Delaware Currents: "Concerns about water and power demands surface as data centers boom in Delaware River watershed": https://delawarecurrents.org/2025/09/08/pennsylvania-data-centers/
- Aug. 25, 2025, The River Reporter: "Data centers discussed: Hearing reviews water, energy impacts": https://www.riverreporter.com/stories/data-centers-discussed-hearing-reviews-water-energy-impacts,213549
- Aug. 12, 2025, WVIA News: "Answers still needed after hearing in Lackawanna County for data center development in Pa.": https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2025-08-12/answers-still-needed-after-hearing-in-lackawanna-county-for-data-center-development-in-pa
- Aug. 12, 2025, WITF: "Pa. water supply could be strained by new data centers, freshwater overseers warn": https://www.witf.org/2025/08/12/pa-water-supply-could-be-strained-by-new-data-centers-freshwater-overseers-warn/
Note: links open in new window.
- 2024 United States Data Center Energy Usage Report, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: https://eta-publications.lbl.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/lbnl-2024-united-states-data-center-energy-usage-report.pdf
- 2024 JLARC Data Centers in Virginia Report, Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission: https://jlarc.virginia.gov/landing-2024-data-centers-in-virginia.asp
- Data Center Map: https://www.datacentermap.com/