Northern Ireland: Irish Water must insist data centres use technology to reduce energy usage and preserve water supply, say politicians

Irish Water is reportedly under pressure to insist existing data centers in Ireland should upgrade to more efficient cooling systems in an effort to reduce their environmental impact and draining effect on water and energy. 

According to reports, the cooling systems employed at data centers across the country can guzzle up to 500,000 litres of water each day. Labour's climate action spokesperson Ian Duncan Smith commented that Irish Water's recommendation that residents should reduce their water consumption seemed unjust when little is being done to implement water conservation schemes for data centers.

He said: "If the technology is there now to reduce their water demand, then they should be modernising. We're asking homeowners to retrofit, to spend large amounts of money in making their homes more sustainable. We should be asking the same of industry."

Irish Water stated: "We actively engage with all non-domestic large water users when we see spikes in the demand to see where savings can be made to ensure water supplies are maintained for all."