What Happened
Recently, the Nebraska legislature passed a new law that requires data centers in the state to provide more information about their operations, including annual water usage and energy demand. This measure aims to increase transparency about the environmental impact of these facilities.
Jesse Bradley, director of the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, stated that the state agency will analyze the collected information to identify gaps and better plan for the future. The legislation is considered a significant step towards understanding the use of natural resources by data centers.
Why It Matters
Water is an increasingly contested resource, especially in areas where availability is limited and agriculture is the primary economic activity. The construction of new data centers in Nebraska has raised concerns about the possibility of water scarcity, especially in regions that already face extreme droughts.
Until now, information about water usage by data centers has come directly from the companies that operate them, if they choose to be transparent. For example, Google's data centers in Nebraska consumed approximately 732 million gallons of water in 2025, according to the company itself.
The Mechanism Behind Water Usage
Data centers use water to cool buildings and computer servers. Maintaining optimal temperatures is crucial to prevent equipment failures. Some cooling methods, such as evaporative cooling systems, consume large amounts of water.
In contrast, air-cooling systems with closed chillers use less water but tend to consume more electricity, whose production may also require water. The choice of cooling system depends on the data center, its design, local climate, water and energy availability, and company priorities.
Broader Context
The expansion of data centers into rural and suburban areas, as fiber-optic cable infrastructure improves, raises concerns about the sustainability of these projects in regions with limited water resources.
Expectations are that water usage will increase due to droughts and global warming, making water policy and allocation a priority issue. It is essential to consider the capacity of natural resources, such as water, before installing industries in sensitive areas.
What's Next
Pressure is increasing for the data center industry to be more efficient and transparent. Researchers and experts advocate for the adoption of technologies that minimize energy and water usage, making these facilities more sustainable.
Nebraska is taking an important step by requiring more transparency about water usage by data centers. However, it is crucial to continue monitoring and evaluating the environmental impact of these facilities to ensure a more sustainable future.
Source / Reference
This story was originally published by Grist with the title 'Nebraska wants data centers to come clean about water usage' on July 15, 2026.