Government questioned over water usage and data centre oversight during hosepipe ban

A hosepipe ban is set to take effect in several counties across the Irish east coast due to record temperatures and climate change, prompting political questions regarding the oversight of water consumption by data centres.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Jennifer Whitmore raised concerns about the fairness of asking the public to conserve water while governance over the volume of water used by data centres, particularly in the Dublin area, remains unclear.

Data Centre Consumption Figures Disputed

During the debate, Deputy Whitmore highlighted apparent discrepancies in water abstraction data. According to her statement, Uisce Éireann estimates that data centres abstract approximately 800 megalitres (ML), which represents 0.13% of the national average.

However, Deputy Whitmore disputed this figure, claiming it is lower than the volume of water recorded as abstracted by Meta for just one of its own plants. She questioned the accuracy of Uisce Éireann's reporting, suggesting the utility provider lacked proper figures and oversight regarding the sector's actual usage.

Government Response

In response to the concerns, the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, stated that oversight could be ensured but questioned the proposed policy direction, asking if the suggestion was to shut down or take the data centres out of use.

The debate highlights ongoing tensions between national climate adaptation measures, such as domestic water conservation orders, and the utility demands of large-scale industrial infrastructure on the east coast.