19119_Authority_April_2026

14 The Authority │ April infrastructure resiliency, and clarity on permitting and construction timelines. Utilities that have invested time and effort in developing and maintaining master plans will have an easier time responding to hyperscalers’ requests as they will have a firm understanding of the capabilities of the existing system and future growth potential . Due to land availability, development sites are more likely to be on the outskirts of the existing water system, although brownfield industrial sites often make attractive choices, especially if water and other infrastructure still exist. Utilities who have thought through supply, treatment, and distribution expansion and have identified expansion projects will have a much easier time providing answers. Although often overlooked, similar planning is required on the wastewater system. It is critical as wastewater, both domestic and process, from data center operations also needs to be handled. There can be challenges for data centers seeking cooling water supply from smaller utilities with little historic growth, as the required demand may be beyond any anticipated expansion and additional water supply planning scenarios. The confidentiality of these early conversations can complicate utility planning, making it difficult to assess long-term impacts or engage stakeholders . Utilities that proactively prepare standardized data packages or internal processes for handling such inquiries position themselves as more responsive and better equipped to manage risk. Utilities must also ask their own strategic questions. Understanding a data center’s projected growth trajectory, peak demand patterns, and wastewater characteristics is essential for infrastructure planning . Given that hyperscalers are often willing to invest capital in utility system upgrades to help meet or fast-track their goals, utilities must ensure such investments do not create stranded assets or water quality challenges if plans change or facilities scale differently than expected in a rapidly evolving market. Open, informed dialogue helps utilities protect their interests while enabling hyperscalers to meet essential design and operational requirements. Hyperscalers will also request water quality data and it’s important for the utility to realize that key parameters for cooling water differ from potable water parameters. Utilities can support by performing or assisting water quality sampling and analysis from their source or distribution systems. Adiabatic cooling technology, typically applied in data centers, produces non-contact cooling water blowdown with high TDS (varies based on cycles of concentration). The pattern of discharge volume will trend with the cooling water demand profile, but at a reduced volume due to evaporative losses. The non- contact cooling water is too “clean” (i.e., no biological component) for a conventional domestic WWTF and can impact the treatment processes. Asking the hyperscaler to provide flow equalization can help moderate the impact on the treatment facilities, but this strategy needs to be carefully planned. Utilities should make their own data request to the hyperscalers (especially for utilities that operate small WWTFs), so they can understand the anticipated industrial wastewater quantity and quality to evaluate the potential impact . Careful planning for onsite water storage can help address supply and demand imbalances. As noted above, cooling needs in Pennsylvania are typically confined to summer months so one approach to addressing the peak day Continued on page 52. I n an era where water and data are both foundational resources , speaking the same language is the first step toward smarter , more resilient growth .