Meta’s Stanton Springs Data Center is seen Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Newton County, East of Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
HARRISBURG — The Press Enterprise reports Pennsylvania’s newer data centers should use far less water than older facilities in Virginia. Susquehanna River Basin Commission Executive Director Andrew Dehoff spoke this week during Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver’s virtual session this week.
He said that closed-loop cooling systems reuse water, helping reduce demand compared with traditional evaporative cooling systems. Amazon’s Salem Township, Luzerne County, facility may use up to 129,000 gallons daily during the hottest periods.
Dehoff says power generation could pose a greater water challenge because data centers require substantial electricity. The commission reviews major water requests, requires drought cutbacks and encourages developers to adopt efficient cooling technology.
