Assessment Results
Estimated water impact for a 200 MW evaporative-cooled data center in Prince George's County, MD. Numbers below are planning-level estimates; every figure links to a primary source and is citable in planning briefs, permit filings, or journalism.
Direct Water Consumption (Scope 1)
| Metric | Value | Source / Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Daily consumption | 1,200,000 gal/day | 200 MW × 24h × 1.8 L/kWh × 0.264 gal/L × 0.65 PUE overhead (LBNL) |
| Annual consumption | 438,000,000 gal/yr | Daily × 365 |
| Acre-feet per year | 1,344 AF/yr | Annual ÷ 325,851 gal/AF |
Community Impact Context
| Metric | Value | Source / Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Household equivalency | 8,000 homes | Daily ÷ 150 gal/household/day (USGS) |
| Share of utility capacity | 0.71% | Daily ÷ WSSC system capacity 170 MGD (WSSC) |
| Annual water cost (at muni rate) | $4,292,400/yr | Annual × $9.80/1,000 gal (WSSC) |
Municipal Water Supply Impact
Bar shows this facility's daily consumption as a share of total utility system capacity. ICPRB (March 2026) estimates data centers collectively account for 9–12% of regional Potomac consumptive use during summer peak.
Indirect Water — Power Generation (Scope 2)
This section calculates water consumed by power plants generating electricity for this facility. This figure is excluded from corporate "water positive" disclosures by Google, Microsoft, and AWS.
| Metric | Value | Source / Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Indirect water (daily) | 2,200,000 gal/day | 200 MW × 24h × 1,000 kW/MW × 1.42 gal/kWh (EIA-923, PJM grid mix) |
| Indirect water (annual) | 803,000,000 gal/yr | Indirect daily × 365 |
| Total water footprint (daily) | 3,400,000 gal/day | Direct + indirect |
| Total water footprint (annual) | 1,241,000,000 gal/yr | Direct + indirect |
Indirect water intensity varies by grid region. PJM Interconnection (serving MD/VA/DC) uses a mix of natural gas (41%), nuclear (33%), and coal (19%), yielding a weighted water intensity of 1.42 gal/kWh. See Methodology §3 for derivation.
Electricity and Rate Impact
| Metric | Value | Source / Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Peak power draw | 200 MW | User input |
| Annual electricity consumption | 1,752,000 MWh/yr | 200 MW × 8,760 hr/yr |
| Est. residential rate impact | +$12–$22/mo per household | Based on EIA state rate data and PEPCO infrastructure cost allocation models. Range reflects uncertainty. |
| Share of local grid capacity | ~11.8% | 200 MW ÷ ~1,700 MW PEPCO peak (PJM) |
Limitations and Disclaimers
- Estimates are based on published industry averages and publicly available utility data. Actual consumption depends on facility design, IT load profiles, climate conditions, and operational decisions not modeled here.
- Indirect water calculations use regional grid-average water intensity. Facilities with dedicated renewable energy or power purchase agreements may have different indirect water footprints.
- Residential rate impact is a range estimate. Actual rate changes depend on regulatory proceedings, infrastructure investment allocation, and utility-specific cost structures.
- This tool is provided for informational and planning purposes. It does not constitute engineering analysis, legal advice, or regulatory determination.
Full methodology, assumptions, and data sources: Methodology. Questions or corrections: ravi@standardwater.co.