AI DC KOREA · 2026-09-23

Understanding Data Center WUE: Compare Water Usage and Measurement Scopes Together

This is a comparison table that verifies the units, time periods, and measurement ranges of WUE, which indicates the relationship between on-site water usage and IT energy consumption. It does not imply actual measurements at a specific center or water supply availability.

It is difficult to determine a data center’s water usage based solely on the name of its cooling method. To compare water usage, you must also verify where the water was used and over what period it was compared to IT energy consumption.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s FEMP guidelines on cooling water efficiency define on-site WUE as the annual on-site water usage divided by the annual energy consumption of IT equipment. The unit is L/kWh. The same guidance distinguishes between water evaporated from cooling towers and water discharged to maintain water quality. This explanation is not intended to confirm the water supply volume or availability at specific domestic sites.

Five points to include in the comparison table

Below is the data organization method proposed by AI-DC KOREA.

If a report does not include water usage data, do not enter “0.” Rather than directly ranking two figures with different measurement ranges, prioritize identifying comparable aspects and identifying missing information. Please include links to the original sources of the disclosed design descriptions and figures in the consultation materials.

Please specify the units before making comparisons.

Record the volume of water (L) in the numerator and the energy consumption of IT equipment (kWh) in the denominator, and verify that the time periods for both values match. For data where the scope of on-site water usage differs, indicate the discrepancy before making a comparison. Do not use a single WUE value to determine the feasibility of water supply for an individual site.