Data centres should be built next to wastewater and treatment works to limit impact on Scotland’s water supplies
Scotland must act quickly if it is to benefit from data centres whilst addressing community and environmental concerns about water usage, according to RSE chief executive and chair of British Water, Stephen Slessor.
He believes that, if Scotland does go ahead with building data centres, officials must consider the best place to put them – to limit impact on drinking water availability and to achieve maximum benefit for communities.
Speaking ahead of a debate in the Scottish Parliament today, Mr Slessor has called for mandatory reporting of water usage. He said that building data centres next to wastewater recycling centres and treatment works would ensure that clean drinking water levels are not impacted.
RSE chief executive Stephen Slessor, said: “Major infrastructure projects are essential for economic growth, but if Scotland goes ahead with building data centres, we need a whole-system approach. We need planning authorities working with utilities, communities and government to locate these investments strategically.
“Negative perceptions of water use is a serious challenge for the data centre industry. At present. there is no mandatory reporting of data centre water usage, or mandatory requirements to minimise it. We need a clear framework for how data centres will operate and limit their impacts on the environment, and stakeholders need to buy into that. This certainty and transparency would benefit communities, developers and those tasked with reviewing applications.
“We don’t want data centres taking out large chunks of clean drinking water when we could build data centres next to treatment works or wastewater recovery systems. Using recyclable or recycled water is far better for the environment and has less impact on local communities.
“A lot of smaller data centres can be water efficient with closed loop systems. But some of the bigger, critical national infrastructure data centres require more thought.”
RSE is a specialist water treatment and clean energy solutions provider, delivering a wide range of standard and engineered water treatment solutions.
Established in 1982, RSE has grown into one of the leading MEICA contractors and specialist engineering businesses in the UK water industry. It has created an in-house full-service capability from project inception through to design, fabrication and delivery by means of installation and commissioning.
