DATA CENTERS & LAKE ERIE

Understanding the risks—and how Lake Erie Foundation is working to protect our water

Data centers power the digital world—from cloud storage and streaming to artificial intelligence and advanced computing. As these facilities expand across Ohio and the Great Lakes region, their impact on local water resources deserves careful attention.

Lake Erie is a drinking water source for 11 million people and a cornerstone of our regional economy. Protecting it means understanding how emerging industrial uses—like large-scale data centers—interact with our waterways today and over time.

The Issue

Data centers are not inherently harmful. However, their water use and wastewater practices can pose risks if not properly reviewed, monitored, and managed.

Each facility is different. Cooling methods, water treatment systems, and discharge practices vary widely—making blanket assumptions ineffective and potentially dangerous.

Without rigorous oversight, data centers can introduce new stressors to already vulnerable waters.

Key Water Quality Concerns

Industrial cooling systems use and discharge water
Large volumes of water are often required to cool servers and equipment, increasing demand on local water sources and raising concerns about discharge quality.

Some contaminants are difficult to remove
Certain industrial chemicals—potentially including PFAS—may not be fully removed through conventional wastewater treatment processes.

Cumulative impacts add up
While one facility may appear manageable, multiple data centers within a watershed can create compounding effects that strain water quality over time.

Why Lake Erie Is Especially Vulnerable

Lake Erie is shallow, heavily used, and already under pressure from nutrient runoff, legacy pollution, and climate-driven changes.

Introducing new industrial water demands without careful planning increases the risk of unintended consequences—especially when permits, monitoring, or enforcement fall short.

Protecting Lake Erie requires site-specific review, transparency, and a precautionary approach grounded in science.

What Lake Erie Foundation Is Doing

Lake Erie Foundation advocates for responsible water stewardship by:

  • Supporting science-based, site-specific permitting

  • Encouraging strong monitoring and disclosure requirements

  • Educating the public and decision-makers on cumulative water impacts

  • Ensuring economic development does not come at the expense of clean water

Our goal is not to halt innovation—but to ensure progress does not compromise the health of Lake Erie.

How You Can Help

Protecting Lake Erie requires informed citizens, strong policies, and sustained advocacy.

You can help by:

  • Staying informed about proposed industrial developments

  • Supporting science-based water protections

  • Donating to support Lake Erie Foundation’s work

Together, we can ensure Lake Erie remains clean, safe, and resilient—now and for future generations.