The Weird Science of Cooling Data Centers With Urine
Former NFL player Jason Kelce recently joked that data centers should be cooled with human urine instead of scarce drinking water. Turns out the idea isn't pure comedy. Urine is mostly water, and with treatment, could theoretically be repurposed for cooling systems that currently draw millions of gallons of potable water daily.
Data centers, especially those powering AI workloads, need constant cooling to keep servers from overheating. Many facilities use evaporative cooling systems that consume large volumes of fresh water, sparking concern in drought-prone regions. Researchers and wastewater engineers have pointed out that treated greywater or even urine-derived water could serve as an alternative source, provided treatment costs and public perception can be managed.
No major data center operator has publicly committed to pee-powered cooling, but the underlying concept — using non-potable, recycled water sources — is already gaining traction industry-wide.