Data Center Planned Near Warsaw, Poland, Sparks Local Protests

A data center planned for a Warsaw suburb has sparked concerns among local residents over its potential impact on water supplies. Developed by Sien Real, a joint venture between Budimex and Ferrovial, the project will include four buildings on a 45,305-square-meter site between Piaseczno and Józefosław. Construction is expected to begin in 2027. The facility’s compute capacity has not been disclosed, but its expected water consumption is equivalent to that of a residential development housing up to 3,000 people, raising concerns about existing water shortages in the area.

Budimex spokesperson Marcin Graczyk said the data center will include measures to reduce water use, noise, and dust. The cooling and backup power systems will also follow modern data center standards. The project received planning approval in 2024. Environmental documents indicate it will have four 320 m³ diesel tanks and 49 generators with a combined capacity of around 118MW. Water will come from the local network, while a 1,102 m³ retention tank will collect rainwater and snowmelt for reuse or discharge into the sewer system.

Residents have raised concerns that the project could worsen water shortages in Józefosław, where locals have already reported low water pressure in the evenings. Residents later petitioned for a review of the water network’s capacity. Warsaw is Poland’s largest data center market, with 45 facilities in and around the city. Recent projects include a 10MW facility by Data4 and a planned 130MW site by Hillwood.