Source: Sinn Féin
A report by ‘The Journal Investigates’ has shown that Data Centres used almost 1 billion litres of water last year, yet face no regulation on their water use during the current heat wave conditions.
The report shows that over the last two years, data centres have used approximately 1.7 billion litres of water.
The findings of this report have been described as “damning” by Lynn Boylan, the Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin.
Lynn said that this report will leave people feeling like there’s one rule for ordinary people, and another for big businesses and tech companies, in the wake of homes across the country being slapped with a hosepipe ban.
“The sheer volume of water being used by data centres is staggering, and even moreso when you consider that they’re not facing any restriction or conditions around the use in the current hot weather spell.
“While these companies burn through thousands of litres per day, people who are trying to grow vegetables and tend to a garden, or fill a paddling pool for children are being threatened with fines.”
Lynn said that the governments defence line around data centres employing almost 180,000 people doesn’t hold up to scrutiny either:
“The actual figure for people employed by data centres is actually much closer to 1,800 people than it is to 180,000, the Minister for Enterprise said so in an official report.
“It’s no surprise that Daragh O’Brien wants to distract from that fact with made up figures when you consider the insane amount of energy and water being used by the small number of people actually employed by data centres.
The EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive obliges the government to publish how much water is used by the data centres here.
Instead of passing the legislation, Lynn explained that the government deliberately avoids collecting this information from data centres themselves.
“It’s a sly trick to avoid taking action – if you don’t measure their water use, how can you regulate it?
“All the while, the government will defend Data Centres to the hilt, despite the massive pressure they’re heaping on our grid, our water supply, and to people energy bills.”