College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department
Political Science Department
Faculty Mentor
Briana Bowen
Abstract
Federal national security related data centers are increasingly threatened as drought conditions increase in Utah and Idaho. The NSA and FBI data centers in these locations process digital information that informs local and national decision makers of critical national security occurrences. Data centers use water-based cooling systems to prevent hardware failure from overheating, that, while energy efficient, consume large quantities of water. Data centers cannot operate without robust cooling mechanisms. Increasing drought conditions in Utah and Idaho may at a future point become severe enough that water restrictions to the communities that house data centers are possible. The water levels of the Provo River and Pocatello Aquifer from which these centers source water are decreasing. The political controversy surrounding data-related national security affairs risks that data centers will be the target of state legislation to reduce water usage. There are mitigation measures that can prevent vulnerability to water shortage and restrictions. Private and government data centers in Utah can form partnerships to develop and adopt the most efficient, up-to-date technologies to reduce water usage. State decision makers can learn the role of data centers in the realm of state and national security affairs to inform future water restrictions. All data centers can develop emergency operations plans for continuation of services in the event of water disruptions and encourage government and private entities to create data center in alternate locations with larger water resources.
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
1-25-2023
Recommended Citation
Devey, Ella, "Increasing Drought Conditions Threaten Utah High-Tech Data Center Cooling Systems" (2023). Research on Capitol Hill. Paper 132.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/roch/132