The same size data center can have very different water impacts depending on how heat is ultimately rejected outside: dry/air-cooled, evaporative, or hybrid. Internal liquid loops alone do not determine site water consumption.
Require the applicant to describe both the internal cooling loop and the final heat-rejection method: dry/air-cooled, evaporative, or hybrid.
Municipal water, well water, reclaimed water, surface water, and industrial reuse all have different impacts.
Peak-day use and annual consumption both matter. One number alone can be misleading.
A liquid loop inside the building may be sealed and recirculating while the outdoor heat-rejection equipment still consumes water. Municipal disclosure should cover the complete cooling path.
See the cooling comparisonMunicipalities can require water-use estimates, cooling system descriptions, drought response plans, reporting requirements, and disclosure of whether reclaimed water can be used.
A blanket rule against "data center water use" may miss the point. Two facilities with closed internal loops can still have very different water impacts if one uses dry heat rejection and the other uses evaporative cooling towers.