THE HOSEPIPE BAN has recently been extended across Ireland, and in the aftermath of near-record-breaking heatwaves, houses are still being urged to do their part to reduce their water use. Meanwhile, some of the largest water consumers, data centres and other heavy industry, continue to draw on the public water supply without meaningful restriction or oversight.

Responsible governance and an informed public debate require reliable data to base decisions on. However, when it comes to data centres, the information is patchy and confusing, and what information we do have is often the result of journalistic efforts. It’s clear an environment of secrecy has favoured this sector amidst its ever-growing impacts.

The footprint of this sector in Ireland is significant, as these vast warehouses of servers produce intense heat, requiring sophisticated cooling systems to work effectively. Their impact has led to some headline-grabbing statistics, such as the 23% of annual electricity usage last year (more than all urban homes across the country) to the more recent revelation of almost one billion litres of water consumed in the same period (the same usage as Sligo Town).

Given this footprint, it’s surprising that the government has admitted it does not even know the exact number of data centres located in the country. According to EU estimates, there are likely 123 data centres operating in Ireland, although the exact number varies due to the lack of an official government source.

Unlike electricity, where the CSO provides reliable figures, the full picture of how much water the sector consumes remains unclear.........

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