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Data Centers: An Emerging Industry
Introduction

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.

Image of a data center (Adobe Stock).
Tracking Data Centers & Looking Ahead

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 Tracking Data Centers in the DRB

→ DRBC is tracking policy, legislative and technology developments in this rapidly changing space.

→ DRBC's technical staff is tracking data centers within the Delaware River Basin to understand and manage potential water resources implications. 

  • There are approximately 65 data centers currently operating within the Delaware River Basin, most of which are small-to medium-scale traditional and colocation centers.

  • To date, the DRBC has not received any applications for data center projects because the existing data centers in the Basin purchase water from public water supply systems rather than operate their own withdrawal systems.

  • The DRBC is aware of approximately 33 new data centers being planned within the Delaware River Basin. As of August 2026, none has applied to the DRBC.


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.
DRBC Activities Timeline

 

September 2026: DRBC Manager of Water Resource Planning Chad Pindar, P.E., presented at a Hunterdon County Data Center Informational Meeting on Data Centers and the Delaware River Basin (archived PDF). 



April 2026: DRBC staff joined its partners at the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) to host a free, public webinar on "Data Centers: What About Water?" This webinar explored how water factors into the rise of data centers, why it matters for our communities and shared resources and the role of interstate River Basin Commissions. 

 

 

→ Also in April, DRBC Manager of Water Resource Planning Chad Pindar, P.E., presented to the New Jersey Water Supply Advisory Council on Data Centers and the Delaware River Basin (archived PDF).



March 2026: DRBC Water Resource Scientist Amanda Khalil presented to the Upper Delaware Council on "Data Centers and the Delaware River Basin."


→ Also in March, DRBC Director of External Affairs Elizabeth Brown participated in a panel discussion at a regional convening of Philadelphia area planners and officials organized by the Chester County (Pa.) Association of Township Officials. 



February 2026: The Pennsylvania Municipal League invited DRBC and its partners at the Susquehanna and Potomac river basin commissions to share water considerations in data center development. The joint article, "River Basin Commissions and Data Centers: Planning for a Growing Industry with Intensive Water Demands," was published in the February 2026 Municipal Reporter: Pennsylvania Data Centers Edition (article starts on p. 37).


→ Also in February, DRBC Director of External Affairs Elizabeth Brown participated in a panel discussion at the Montgomery County (Pa.) Association of Township Officials. 



January 2026: DRBC staff joined with SRBC and ICPRB to provide a briefing to members of the Pennsylvania legislature.



November 2025: DRBC staff presented on data centers at the annual meeting of the Schuylkill Action Network (archived PDF). 



October 2025: DRBC staff provided an update on data centers to its Water Management Advisory Committee (archived PDF).

→ Also 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. 



August 2025: DRBC Executive Director Kristen Bowman Kavanagh 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).
DRBC Resources for Partners

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
Additional Resources


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