Water’s Role in Digital Infrastructure

Water is the anchor for public health, quality of life, and the economy that makes our community thrive.

When it comes to projects like data centers, water is an important consideration. Think of a data center like digital infrastructure: large machines processing, storing, and sending data for things that we all use, including shopping, searching the internet, banking, health records, and asking an app for directions. Those machines need a controlled temperature environment and often water is part of the cooling solution.

Questions and Concerns

Lots of people have questions and concerns about data centers. Technology is changing at a rapid pace, and it can feel threatening. Louisville Water will always be upfront about water needs and economic development, and that includes data centers.

Will the proposed Camp Ground Road project impact our drinking water supply and water quality?

A data center does not change your water quality and based on what we know about this project, this proposed data center will not impact our water delivery to other customers. This project will not impact the supply for our drinking water; the Ohio River provides an abundant supply of water for the community.

Will a data center increase what I pay for water?

No. Our customers do not pay for infrastructure that a new business needs to start their operation.

How does Louisville Water work with a potential data center?

A data center project is like other economic development efforts; we work closely with our community partners to ensure water is part of the conversation.

When a new business looks at Louisville or decides to open a new location here, we support them in understanding our infrastructure, how our service fees and connections work, our role in fire protection, and how the billing system works.

The biggest use for water in a data center is to cool the servers. The overall water usage varies based on size of the facility, but many centers are moving to “closed loop” systems to minimize the amount of water that’s needed for cooling. Like other large businesses, data centers also use water for fire protection, maintenance, and cleaning.

Understanding the water needs for any large business is why it’s important that Louisville Water is part of the conversation early in the planning.