The report, which covers factors such as water supply reliability and growth-related costs, takes no side on data center development, the association said.
Water utilities weighing proposed data centers are the intended audience for a new report from the American Water Works Association (AWWA). Titled Cooling the Cloud: Considerations for Water Utilities Evaluating Data Center Development, the report was developed with Carollo Engineers.
AWWA announced the report Oct. 29, saying utilities increasingly find themselves central to local discussions about the possible effects of proposed data centers on water resources, system capacity and infrastructure. Its purpose is to steer utilities through those conversations, the association said.
The report weighs financial, contractual, technological and resource factors. Its adaptable resources are meant to help utilities screen proposed projects, spot information gaps and gauge their own capacity, AWWA said. They also cover comparing water-supply and infrastructure alternatives, setting development conditions, and preparing to negotiate with data center developers and owners.
One of the report's key insights is that utilities should closely...