Data Center Owner Overcomes Complex Water Challenges and Achieves Sustainability Goals

Data centers that choose to use water for their cooling systems enter a complex world that involves proper sourcing of the water and selecting multiple methods to treat or reuse it after it has been run through the system. As issues such as water scarcity, sustainability and quality impact data center projects – as well as potentially the surrounding public at-large – making the right choices for each unique location is an ongoing challenge requiring significant expertise.

Black & Veatch recently helped a global technology leader implement a variety of projects that highlight the diverse range of water and wastewater solutions available to data centers, regardless of location.

The first project involves designing a 2 ½-mile wastewater pipeline for cooling water blowdown from its data center. This blowdown, which is the wastewater from the cooling system, will connect the data center to the local wastewater treatment plant. Two key challenges and complexities for the client to overcome included an aggressive timeline and multi-agency coordination to obtain an NPDES permit modification to facilitate the future O&M of the new assets associated with this project. Black & Veatch has brought value to the client and owner by finding logical cost savings through design improvements. Some of these improvements include:

• Eliminating several trenchless crossings and utilizing open cut methods

• Simplifying the approach to chemical dosing to eliminate longer pipe runs for sample analysis and power/control feeds from the electrical building

• Providing coordination with the utility owner, and

• Alignment changes to utilize existing easements to reduce easement acquisition costs

Providing Insights to Make Better Choices

For a second project, Black & Veatch is providing the client with an alternatives analysis for wastewater discharge. Blowdown from the cooling towers will create a chlorinated discharge offsite. Black & Veatch is analyzing up to three discharge alternatives to determine the most appropriate choice for implementation. After cycling the source water through the system, the spent water is discharged, as it usually contains salt and dissolved solids.

Wastewater sampling will help determine the exact makeup and content of the water since discharge differs from facility to facility. The alternatives analysis will focus on several key questions:

• Can the blowdown be discharged directly to a receiving body?

• Can the company discharge to the local wastewater treatment plant so that no additional treatment is needed?

• Will the company need to install a water treatment system at the project site?

• Will the local interceptor be able to handle the amount of wastewater that will come from the data center?

In evaluating the alternatives, Black & Veatch will provide an overall assessment and recommendations.

As another example, Black & Veatch is providing a wastewater treatment plant conceptual design for the client to define its options for getting recycled water to the site. This will examine existing infrastructure from the local utility and the required new infrastructure to meet water demands at the data center. The project involves working closely with the client to determine its operational needs and identify the best ways to meet its sustainability goals.

Staff Augmentation Solves Many Issues

The labor market continues to be a challenge for companies across the globe, and for that reason, many are seeking staff augmentation to help maintain full and efficient operations, whether it involves engineering, planning, procurement, or construction.

For this technology client, Black & Veatch is acting as extensions of the client’s staff, providing necessary technical talent for the important water infrastructure planning and site due diligence support. Black & Veatch professionals act on behalf of the client as their design liaison with other organizations, serving as the owner’s project manager to coordinate with utilities and other firms during the design process. This advocacy for the client helps ensure that water infrastructure and sustainability goals are met.

By providing staff augmentation, Black & Veatch can address talent gaps and provide the skills, subject matter expertise and knowledge transfer to maintain efficient operations and reach important targets.