Data Centers & Water Use
As an agency responsible for balancing economic development with the conservation of aquatic ecosystems, we have a strong interest in any industry that has potentially high water demands. When hyperscale data center development in the Susquehanna River Basin began hitting the headlines, we were concerned that water was mostly left out of the conversation. So we went on a mission to educate developers, legislators, community planners and the public on the potential impacts this emerging and fast-changing industry may have on our water resources. It's safe to say water is now being talked about regularly, and most importantly, in many planning discussions.
Any proposed data center looking to withdraw or consumptively use water over our regulatory thresholds will need Commission approval before operating. They'll need to undergo rigorous, scientific reviews by highly trained/licensed hydrogeologists, geologists and engineers to determine whether or not a water use will negatively impact the environment and/or other users.
We are also working with the industry to promote water-saving technology where possible. Depending on the cooling technology used, which is evolving rapidly, demands can range from very low (under our thresholds) to high (millions) gallons per day. Water usage for data center cooling varies widely by company and site.
FAQs
Please read through our frequently asked questions regarding data center water usage and our regulations.
More Speculation than Development
Despite all the news surrounding proposed data centers in Pennsylvania, we have issued only one permit for a hyperscale data center in the Susquehanna River Basin as of early 2026. As part of our robust public outreach efforts, we've answered many questions that have arisen regarding Amazon Web Services' data center complex in Salem Township, PA in the following document:
- Amazon Web Services Data Center FAQ
- All approved projects and pending applications (for any industry) can be viewed on our Water Application & Approval Viewer (WAAV) .
Articles & Interviews
Commission staff have written multiple articles on the subject and conducted numerous interviews. A small sample can be found here:
- Data Centers: Let's Talk About Water Demands
- What About Water? Townships Must Consider Data Center Impacts on This Vital Natural Resource (PDF)
- Engineering a Balance: Data Center Development & Water Resource Sustainability
- River Basin Commissions and Data Centers: Planning for a Growing Industry with Intensive Water Demands (PDF)
- Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association Podcast talks with SRBC staff
- WITF Interview with SRBC Executive Director Andrew Dehoff on data center water usage
Informational Flyers
Data Center Water Demands (PDF)
Data Center Water Use Alternatives (PDF)