The New Jersey Assembly passed a measure on Oct. 29 directing the state to study how large-scale data centers use New Jersey’s water – and what that could mean for drinking water systems, wastewater infrastructure and the utility bills residents pay.
The bill, A3966, requires the Department of Environmental Protection to evaluate the short-term, long-term and anticipated future effects of water use by large-scale data centers on drinking water systems, wastewater systems and the environment. Under the measure, the DEP could request information from data center operators, public water systems and wastewater utilities, and the environmental protection commissioner could recommend new legislation on data centers’ water consumption.
Many data centers, beyond their heavy electricity use, rely on large amounts of water for cooling. The water study would run parallel to an ongoing Board of Public Utilities examination of data centers’ electricity use, giving the state a fuller picture of what the fast-growing facilities demand from local systems.
“In order to plan accordingly for future data center development, we need a clearer understanding of how these facilities use our water resources and what that means for our communities,” said Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak (D-Middlesex), a sponsor, in a Nov. 5 statement. “This study would give us the information needed to make informed decisions about how to protect our water supply and our residents.”
“As large-scale data centers require substantial amounts of water usage, New Jersey needs to understand the actual impact on our communities and water infrastructure,” said Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla (D-Hudson). “This study will help us better understand the resources these facilities require to function, so families don’t bear the cost of their consumption.”
“Water is an essential resource, and we need to understand how increased demand from data centers could affect our residents and communities,” said Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill (D-Essex, Passaic). “This legislation helps ensure water-use receives the same level of attention as electricity consumption.”
The measure now heads to the state Senate.
JBizNews Desk | Trenton
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