What’s in the water? What we know and don’t know about data center water discharge in Virginia

By: Shannon Heckt

Outlets: Virginia Mercury

Published: June 1, 2026

Words: 1,676

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 3 days ago

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Data centers require a massive amount of water to cool their systems, which heat up as they process digital information through numerous computers and network servers. Systems that aren’t “closed loop” have to cycle out water that doesn’t evaporate.

Most data centers in Virginia are permitted to discharge water into municipal wastewater systems, the same place household water goes to be treated and recycled for consumption. But there’s limited data tracking of potential chemicals …

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