[Digital Today reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] As data centres consume more water along with electricity, reusing water generated during oil and gas production as cooling water is emerging as an alternative. It could reduce pressure on drinking-water resources, but securing storage facilities suited to water quality and establishing long-term maintenance plans are cited as challenges.

Tech news outlet TechRadar reported on Oct. 12, local time, that the United States is pushing policies and pilot projects to use reclaimed water for data centre cooling. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency listed expanding water reuse for data centre cooling as a priority task in its 'Water Reuse Action Plan 2.0' released in April. Related trials and contracts are also under way, the outlet reported.

The water resource drawing attention is produced water that comes out alongside oil and gas extraction. In the U.S. Permian Basin, daily average produced water generation in 2025 was expected at about 22.3 million barrels, and about 16 million barrels of that was classified for disposal, the outlet reported. Using it for data centre cooling could shift water previously treated for disposal to a new industrial use and ease the burden of using drinking water.

Still, supplying produced water to data centres requires consideration of water quality and storage conditions first. Produced water can vary widely in composition, including salinity and mineral content, depending on its source. Specifications for storage facilities such as tanks, sealants and internal coatings should therefore be set after analysing the water's characteristics.

Data centres typically store water separately by use, including brine, pre-treated water, treated industrial water, filtered water, purified water and firefighting water. If produced water is added, operators must secure additional storage space and separately manage the water quality and operating conditions of each water system. That means stable reuse systems are difficult to build by simply adding more tanks to hold water.

Choosing materials for storage tanks is also important. Suitable materials differ depending on corrosion risk, site environment and maintenance conditions. TechRadar said fusion-bonded epoxy tanks can be used to store produced water and various industrial waters. Glass-fused-to-steel tanks, galvanised tanks and segmented fibreglass-reinforced plastic tanks can also be alternatives depending on site conditions and use.

Tank types and installation space are also factors to review in the initial design stage. Cylindrical tanks can be installed on outdoor sites, but segmented or special-shaped tanks may be more suitable for underground spaces or sites with limited space. If piping connections, inspection space and future maintenance access are not considered, operating burdens can grow after installation.

Climate conditions are another variable. In the Permian Basin, where summer temperatures are high, exposure conditions, installation locations and material durability must be weighed together. Changes may be difficult after specifications are reflected in bid documents, making it important to finalise design and storage conditions before ordering.

Economic feasibility should not be judged only by initial purchase costs. As data centres operate over long periods, life-cycle costs should be weighed, including tank life, maintenance costs and the burden incurred when facilities are shut down for repairs. The article said industrial epoxy and glass-fused-to-steel tanks can be designed, depending on the application, with a target operating life of about 35 to 45 years. Some lining or plastic-based systems, it said, may require major repairs at an earlier point.

Design should also reflect the possibility that the characteristics of produced water change over time and data centre expansion plans. Manufacturers and installation partners should participate from the outset to confirm site conditions, and procedures are also needed to verify that approved materials match actual construction outcomes. Local manufacturing bases and the capabilities of regional installers can help reduce transport burdens and keep construction schedules.

Reusing produced water can be an alternative for securing cooling water in areas where water sources and data centres are close. To raise actual utilisation, comprehensive design is needed, from water-quality analysis and selection of storage facilities to long-term maintenance. As data centres expand water-sourcing strategies centred on reuse, design and operational capabilities for storage infrastructure are expected to determine the success or failure of produced-water use.