Sydney Water forecasts data centres could draw a quarter of usable water by 2035
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
- The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
Sydney Water projected that data centres could draw up to a quarter of the city's usable water by 2035, and said it had signed 12 confidentiality agreements with technology companies. The sources reviewed do not describe effects on rivers or ecosystems.
What happened
SmartCompany reported that Sydney Water projected data centres would use about 250 megalitres of water a day within ten years, and said there was no spare capacity.
Sydney Water said it had signed 12 confidentiality agreements with technology companies.
Reuters, citing a Sydney Water projection, reported that data centres could draw up to a quarter of the city's usable water, 135 gigalitres, by 2035.
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
Insurers
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Record
- Not measured The figures are projections, not measured use: the sources reviewed do not give current data-centre water use in Sydney.
- None on record The content of the 12 confidentiality agreements is not in the sources reviewed.
- Insufficient Reported but not verified: planned Cape Town data centres would equal 34 per cent of the city's current electricity supply and would use 4.4 billion litres of water a year, according to opponents. The claim comes, the Daily Maverick page could not be opened, and Eskom says there is no pressure on supply.
- Insufficient Reported but not verified: Amazon's water-positive pledge excludes power-plant water, and its 2023 offsets covered 4 of every 10 gallons, with offset schemes in Chile and Cape Town. No source for this item was opened.
- None on record The sources reviewed do not say who gains or loses from the supply arrangements.
Did the harm stop?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Press and investigations
- In Australia, a data centre boom is built on vague water plansTuoi Tre News (Reuters) · 2025-09-15