Water scarcity risks stifling UK digital ambitions

(by Karma Loveday)

In a new paper, sustainable water solutions specialist Grundfos has warned that without urgent reforms, the nation's digital and growth ambitions risk being stifled by water scarcity.

The report, Scale and secure: powering Europe's digital sovereignty contended that sustainable water and energy management are not adequately addressed by current UK policy.

It called on Westminster to:

• Embed Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) alongside Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) in all planning, permitting, and reporting frameworks. 

• Introduce quarterly public disclosure of PUE, WUE, water source and heat reuse, with independent verification, to drive accountability and best practice for data centres.

• Tie planning approvals and financial incentives directly to verified performance thresholds for highly efficient cooling technologies, promoting closed-loop systems and non-potable water use.

• Provide targeted financial incentives for high-efficiency pumping, water reuse and heat recovery solutions, particularly for retrofitting existing Critical National Infrastructure facilities.

• Actively facilitate the integration of data centre excess heat into district heating networks and accelerate the development of ‘purple pipe’ reclaimed water infrastructure.