Across the country, the demand for data centers is growing fast. Every online purchase, video stream, and AI query runs through massive facilities that store and process digital information 24 hours a day. While these centers are key to powering the modern economy, they also raise important questions about water and energy use — especially here in the Miami Valley, where our Buried Valley Aquifer provides nearly all our drinking water.
The Aquifer Beneath Our Feet
The Buried Valley Aquifer is one of the most productive groundwater systems in the United States. It’s a network of sand and gravel deposits left by ancient rivers, storing over a trillion gallons of clean water beneath the Great Miami River watershed. Communities across the region rely on this aquifer every day — not just for drinking water, but for businesses, agriculture, and industry.
Unlike surface water, aquifers recharge slowly. When we pump groundwater faster than it can naturally replenish, water levels drop, wells can run dry, and ecosystems that depend on groundwater begin to suffer.
Recharge areas are the places where rainwater and snowmelt soak into the ground and gradually filter down to refill the aquifer — often open fields, forests, wetlands, and permeable soils near wellfields. Protecting these areas means keeping them open and clean, avoiding activities that could contaminate the water, like storing chemicals, heavy industrial development, or large paved surfaces that block infiltration.
At the same time, communities need to balance new development with long-term sustainability. That can include thoughtful land use planning, green infrastructure to manage stormwater, limits on impervious surfaces in sensitive areas, and careful siting of wells and industrial facilities. By combining protection of recharge areas with smart growth strategies, we can ensure the Buried Valley Aquifer continues to supply clean, reliable water for people, farms, and ecosystems for generations to come.
Why Data Centers Are Part of the Conversation
Modern data centers use both electricity and water to stay cool and operational. Some rely on water-based cooling systems that can draw millions of gallons per year. In regions where drought or groundwater stress is increasing, this water demand has become a growing concern.
Here in Southwest Ohio, we’re fortunate to have a strong water supply — but even abundant resources can be overused or contaminated if not carefully managed. The key question is:
How do we support economic growth without putting our future water security at risk?
Planning for the Future
The Miami Conservancy District is working with regional partners to study the health and sustainability of the Buried Valley Aquifer. This effort looks at where and how the aquifer recharges, how water moves underground, and what types of land use decisions best protect groundwater quality and quantity.
Local governments can use this science to guide zoning and development — ensuring that new industries, whether they are data centers or other high-water users, are planned with groundwater in mind.
Thoughtful planning can include:
Water Comes First
Growth and innovation are important to our region’s future — but so is protecting the foundation that makes that future possible. The Buried Valley Aquifer is our quiet safety net, and the choices we make today will determine how resilient it remains for generations to come.
At Miami Conservancy District, our role is to provide science-based insight and regional collaboration that help communities make informed decisions about growth, water, and sustainability.
Because no matter how much technology changes, one thing never will:
Water comes first. 💙
Stay Informed
Miami Conservancy District is conducting a comprehensive study of the Buried Valley Aquifer to better understand current water use, recharge patterns, and long-term sustainability. Stay up to date with the latest results and tips for protecting our shared water resources by visiting our project page: mcdwater.org/news/aquiferproject2024
#WaterResilience #AquiferAwareness #MiamiValley #DataCenters #GreatMiamiRiverWatershed #Sustainability #MiamiConservancyDistrict
