Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of data centre expansion on water shortages.

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade works with DEFRA, the Environment Agency and industry to ensure the growth of this critical national infrastructure does not compromise the resilience of public water supplies.

Data centres use just 0.2% of England’s non-household water, equivalent to one-fifth of one per cent, and an even smaller share of total water use.

A 2025 techUK–Environment Agency survey found that 51% of surveyed sites use closed-loop cooling systems, which recirculate water rather than continually drawing fresh supplies. The Government supports the wider adoption of efficient cooling technologies and alternative water sources, including rainwater harvesting.