Utah Data Centers Cut Water Use by 80% With New Tech

A data center in Utah is using 80% less water than its neighbor down the road, proving that the tech industry can grow without emptying rivers and lakes.

The numbers tell a powerful story. The National Security Agency's older data center in Bluffdale gulped down 126 million gallons of water in just one year. That's enough to supply nearly 800 Utah homes. But the newer DataBank campus nearby, with two and a half times more server space, used only 7.7 million gallons during the same period.

The contrast comes at a critical moment for Utah. The Great Salt Lake has dropped dangerously low, needing to rise more than 6 feet to reach healthy levels. Governor Spencer Cox announced an ambitious goal to help refill the lake by 2034, even as the state welcomes at least 15 new data center projects since 2021.

For decades, data centers cooled their massive server rooms through evaporative cooling, a process that consumes enormous amounts of water. But innovation is changing that equation fast.

State Representative Jill Koford is pushing transparency forward with a new bill requiring data centers to report their water use publicly. "It's such a new and emerging industry that we need to have a handle on it," she said. The bill treats data centers like other major water users, asking for accountability without blocking growth.

The water savings at newer facilities show what's possible when companies prioritize conservation. DataBank's campus demonstrates that cutting edge technology and water responsibility can work together, not against each other.

Salt Lake City already took action in 2022, passing an ordinance that blocks industries using more than 200,000 gallons daily. The law came after officials noticed a surge in proposals for water intensive businesses across the city.

The Bright Side

This isn't just a Utah story. Communities nationwide are wrestling with how to balance digital infrastructure growth with shrinking water supplies. The success of water efficient data centers in Utah offers a working model for every state facing similar pressures.

The technology exists. The newer facilities prove it works at scale. Now the challenge is making water efficiency the standard, not the exception.

Representative Koford's transparency bill could accelerate that shift. When water use becomes public information, companies face natural pressure to compete on conservation, not just computing power. The businesses saving the most water gain a clear advantage with communities and customers.

For Utah, the path forward looks clearer than the governor's initial frustration suggested. You don't have to choose between technological leadership and environmental protection. The data centers already operating in Bluffdale prove both goals can win.