The explosive growth of data centers-driven by surging demand for artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud services-is amplifying the sector's environmental impacts. Water is emerging as a crucial strategic priority for data center owners, operators, and communities. As companies transition from legacy, on-premises systems to larger hyperscale facilities, the demand for water for cooling and operations is rising, elevating its role in siting, design, and risk management decisions.
To navigate these pressures, leading tech firms are deploying various advanced strategies. These include investing in reclaimed water infrastructure, piloting "water-free" and closed-loop cooling systems, and leveraging digital tools to monitor and optimize water usage. These efforts are not only about environmental stewardship; they also reflect growing operational risks associated with water availability, permitting timelines, and community opposition. For solution providers, the expansion of digital infrastructure presents a significant opportunity to integrate water technologies throughout the asset life cycle, from pretreatment to system optimization.
This Insight Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the U.S. data center market, highlighting the scale, outlook, and technology trends influencing future investments. Bluefield's forecast includes detailed projections for water demand and spend from 2025 to 2030, categorized by data center type, cooling technology, and geography. Additionally, it provides competitive intelligence on key industry players and solution providers within this rapidly evolving sector.
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Data is a key component to this Data Center analysis. Our team has compiled relevant data dashboards.
Companies Mentioned:
Amazon Web Services
Aquatech International
Black & Veatch
Carollo Engineers
Cerafiltec Germany
CoreSite
CyrusOne
Digital Realty
Ecolab
Equinix
Flexential
Google
H2O Innovation
IBM
Iron Mountain
Kurita Water Industries
Lumen Technologies
Meta
Microsoft
Quality Technology Services (QTS) Realty Trust
Stack Infrastructure
Vantage Data Centers
Veolia
Veralto
Xylem
Table of Contents
Section 1 - Defining the Data Center Landscape
U.S. Data Center Market: Types of Data Centers
U.S. Data Center Market: Locations and Ownership
U.S. Data Center Market: New Announcements
U.S. Data Center Market: Existing and Planned Capacity
U.S. Data Center Market: Rise in AI and Shift to Hyperscale Facilities
U.S. Data Center Market: Large CAPEX Investments
Power Demand Transitions to Next Phase, Driven by Data Center Growth
Investment by Real Estate Trusts Drive Data Center Boom
North America Colocation Low Vacancy to Drive Build-Out
Focus on Sustainable Operations
Section 2 - Data Center Water Use Trends & Challenges
Data Center Water Use Climbs as Many Industries See Declines
Reliance on Municipal System Slows Development
Comparing Water Use Across Leading Companies
Water Use Variation By Region
Water Use: Common Challenges and Treatment Solutions
Water Requirements by Cooling Technology
Shift Toward Liquid Cooling
Maturity of Data Center Cooling System Technology
Section 3 - Data Center Water Use & Spend Forecasts
Research Methodology and Data Sources
Data Center Water Consumption Over Time
Data Center Water Use Outlook by Data Center Type
Data Center Water Use Outlook by Cooling Technology
Data Center Water Use by State
Top-Line Water for Data Centers Spend Outlook
Water for Data Centers Spend Breakout - CAPEX
Water for Data Centers Spend Breakout - OPEX
Section 4 - Emerging Water Opportunities
Pockets of Opportunity for Water Solutions Amid Data Center Build Out
Partnering with Municipalities to Capitalize on Reclaimed Water
Digital Solution Deployment for Water Management
Private Public Partnerships Target Leak Detection
Tackling Water Scarcity in Agriculture
Section 5 - Data Center Water Use Profiles
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
CoreSite
CyrusOne
Digital Realty
Equinix
Flexential
Google
IBM
Iron Mountain
Lumen Technologies
Meta
Microsoft
Quality Technology Services (QTS) Realty Trust
Stack Infrastructure
Vantage Data Centers
Section 6 - Competitive Landscape
Water Solution Providers for Data Centers
Comparing Positioning in the Water for Data Centers Market