Virginia State Study: Most Data Centers Use No More Water Than a Large Office Building
GlenBradley · x · 2026-09-04
Virginia's Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) published a major study on the data center industry. Northern Virginia is the world's largest data center market, holding 13% of global operational capacity and 25% of the Americas'.
Key findings:
- The report concludes most data centers use about the same water as or less than an average large office building, with some using substantially more or less
- Economic benefits come mainly from initial construction spending, much of which stays with Virginia businesses
- Data center jobs are fewer than other industries but tend to be high paying
- Growth is expected outside Northern Virginia and along the I-95 corridor
Legislator Glen Bradley cited the report to push back on high water-use claims, noting Project Jupiter's four buildings each need 2.5 million gallons for initial closed-loop fill with no added water for daily cooling.
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