Volterra Report
Water, Watts, & Workloads
How Data Centers Use (and Can Save) Water in the AI Era
Synopsis
A practical view of the energy-water trade-off in data center cooling, including how AI and high-density workloads are changing the design equation. The report compares evaporative, dry, liquid, and reclaimed-water approaches without forcing a one-size-fits-all answer.
Key takeaways
- Cooling choices should be evaluated through both energy and water performance, not one metric alone.
- Direct liquid cooling can enable dry or near-waterless heat rejection in many new high-density builds.
- Climate, grid mix, water availability, workload, and community expectations determine the right system.
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Research applied
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