News & Insights
VIDEO: Reducing water usage in data centers
Why this matters now
Water has become a defining factor in data center siting and design. Drought-stressed regions, public scrutiny of large industrial water users, and tightening utility commitments are pushing owners to revisit cooling strategies that worked a decade ago. At the same time, denser racks and higher heat loads make cooling harder, not easier. Water reduction can no longer be treated separately from power, performance, and community relationships.
What leaders are weighing
Owners are weighing water savings against energy use, capital cost, and operational complexity. Air-cooled solutions reduce water but often use more power. Liquid cooling architectures shift the picture again. They are also deciding how to design for variable climate conditions, how to handle water-stressed sites, and how to engage local utilities and communities. Sustainability teams want measurable progress. Operations teams want reliable cooling at design load. Procurement teams want defensible totals. The right path is usually a combination, tuned to the specific site.
How Salas O’Brien is helping clients respond
Our data center team helps owners evaluate cooling and water strategies that hold up across performance, sustainability, and community expectations. We bring deep mechanical and controls experience along with siting and utility coordination insight. We help leaders model outcomes, compare options, and make decisions that protect both reliability and reputation. Hear Donald Young, Curt Williams, and Karoline Derse talk about practical paths to lower water use.
Donald Young, CCM
Donald Young specializes in sustainable solutions for data centers providing the most resource efficient, effective, and creative solutions available to his clients. Donald is adept at bridging the functions between engineers (design solutions) and contractors (implementation in the field). With a focus on community presence and educational development, Donald is passionate about instilling commitment to sustainability in our leaders for the future. Donald serves as a Principal at Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected]
Karoline Derse, NCARB, AIA
Karoline Derse is a registered Architect with extensive experience in architecture and project management for data centers, critical environments, office tenant improvements, and retail. She enjoys leading multi-disciplinary design teams and working together to develop creative, cost-effective solutions to address the most challenging design situations. Karoline serves as a Managing Principal for Salas O’Brien. Contact her at [email protected].
Curt Williams, PE
Curt Williams has extensive expertise in mission-critical projects and is known for delivering precise, constructible designs within tight timelines. His relational and collaborative approach fosters strong, long-term client partnerships, enabling him to consistently support projects across multiple phases and needs. Curt serves as a Managing Principal at Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected] .