The Importance of Water Management in Data Center Operation
Water quality, consumption, conservation, and reuse are some of the hottest topics in the news today — the impacts of which are felt across both communities and industries. Data centers are no exception.
At AWS: Invent 2022, Amazon announced details on its plan to return more water than its data centers use by the year 2030. But there is more to consider than just water consumption — the quality of the water used is also a key concern, especially as it returns to the watershed.
Data centers are a part of the water cycle many people don’t think about, but managing water in data centers is critical to water supply and safety issues.
Why water is the solution of choice for cooling data centers
Data centers generate massive amounts of heat, and proper cooling is essential to ensure equipment functions optimally. While air cooling has been the standard for many years, water has emerged as the more effective option, and it’s important to understand why.
Water has a higher heat capacity than air, meaning it can absorb more heat energy. As a result, water-cooled systems can operate at much lower temperatures, reducing the risk of equipment failure due to overheating. Water also provides a more even cooling solution, preventing hot spots from forming and ensuring all equipment is cooled uniformly.
Thanks to water’s winning efficiency, major tech companies, including Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, have adopted water-based cooling solutions. These companies have recognized the superior efficiency and cost savings associated with using water. Microsoft even has an underwater data center experiment, Project Natick, which has shown great success.
Other companies using water-based cooling solutions, including eBay, Apple, and Intel, have implemented innovative methods such as free cooling, which leverages cool outside air to cool the data center water, further reducing energy consumption.
For leading tech companies, water is the solution of choice for cooling data centers due to its superior efficiency and effectiveness. As the demand for data centers continues to increase, water-based cooling solutions will likely become even more prevalent, leading to a more sustainable and efficient approach to data center cooling. But with adoption comes risk.
The inherent risks of water
The prevalence of water as the solution of choice for data centers doesn’t mean there aren’t downsides. While water is an essential resource for cooling and other industrial applications, it also presents inherent risks that must be carefully managed.
A few of the main risks associated with water use include:
Sustainability: Water sustainability is a critical issue, particularly in underserved communities. The overuse of water can deplete local water resources, leading to environmental degradation and significant social impacts. Proper water management and conservation practices are essential to ensure access to clean, safe water for all communities.
Contaminants: Proper water treatment is necessary to prevent contaminants from entering industrial processes. Contaminants can damage equipment and harm the environment, making it critical to have effective treatment systems in place.
Corrosion and buildup: A common issue in industrial water systems, corrosion can cause equipment to degrade over time, leading to costly repairs and replacement. Moreover, buildup can reduce the efficiency of water systems and impact their overall performance.
Impact to watershed: The impact of water usage on the watershed and surrounding ecosystems must be carefully considered. Industrial water use can impact aquatic habitats and reduce water availability for other uses.
Sustainable water management practices help mitigate these risks, but it requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders to ensure water is used responsibly. Smart companies are utilizing smart water management systems that drive more efficiency and alert appropriate parties to risks in real time. The benefits and importance of water treatment in data centers are significant, but if not treated properly, water can severely impact a cooling system’s efficiency and reliability. Take proactive steps today to mitigate future water management issues.
Contact Aquanomix today to learn more about building a better water management program — and using smart water management to cut costs and boost results.