Google is partnering with Omaha’s Metropolitan Utilities District as part of a nationwide effort to reduce water use at its data centers.
The internet search giant on Wednesday announced $17 million in grants across seven states to advance its “water stewardship ambitions.”
MUD will receive $3 million of that money to expand its leak-detection program. The utility said the grant money will allow it to install acoustic leak detection sensors across 500 miles of its water lines that are considered high priority. The sensors will allow it to detect and repair leaks faster, leading to less water loss.
MUD said that once it’s implemented, the leak-detection system could save as much as 1 billion gallons of water annually.
“Continued investments in our workforce and modernizing our systems have put us in a position to move quickly — further deploying advanced leak detection across our system to reduce water loss, improve efficiency and strengthen stewardship of critical water resources for the communities we serve,” Gwen Howard, chairperson of the Metropolitan Utilities District Board of Directors, said in a news release.
The Omaha project will add to Google’s other water conservation projects in Nebraska, where it has three data centers — two in the Omaha area and one in Lincoln — and is reportedly considering building another one.
The company has partnered with several natural resources districts to make irrigation operations more efficient and help reduce water outflows from the Platte River.
Google also has agreed to pay $10 million for a dedicated pipeline to allow it to send cooling tower water from its Lincoln data center directly to the city’s Northeast Water Resource Recovery Facility.
“Water is a vital resource, playing a crucial role in transportation, energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and, most importantly, healthy ecosystems and communities,” Ben Townsend, global head of Infrastructure Strategy & Sustainability at Google, said in a news release.
“As data centers evolve to support our growing digital world, we have both an opportunity and a responsibility to protect community water resources while investing in watersheds and public water infrastructure to ensure we all have a bright water future,” Townsend said. “Our goal is to deliver on these commitments, while creating a blueprint for responsible water use across the industry.”