By Shelby Tuttle
Microsoft is implementing a new Zero Water Initiative in its new datacenters in the Valley as part of a plan to substantially reduce water consumption and address the Phoenix region’s problem with water scarcity. By 2026, the Microsoft datacenter in Goodyear will be able to pilot this design, avoiding the need for more than 160 million liters ( approx. 42 million gallons ) per year per facility, making it one of the first locations to pilot this technology that sets a worldwide precedent.  ,
In order to make zero water evaporation the principal cooling method for its had portfolio, all new Microsoft datacenters designed internationally began adopting this next-generation cooling technology in August 2024 as part of Microsoft’s Datacenter Community Pledge. Protecting watersheds is a significant component of this pledge, particularly in areas where water stress is growing, according to a blog written by Steve Solomon, Microsoft’s vice president of datacenter infrastructure engineering. The initiative is positioned to benefit the company’s operations in El Mirage and Goodyear, as well as the Valley’s communities at big.
The fresh datacenter design uses chip-level cooling solutions to achieve accurate temperature control without requiring water evaporation, optimising AI workloads and using zero water for cooling. Water is also used for administrative purposes, such as bathrooms and kitchens, but this design will save more than 125 million liters of water annually per datacenter, according to the blog.
Replacement of archaic ambient systems with mechanical cooling will increase Microsoft’s power usage effectiveness. When the system is fully occupied during construction, it will continue to circulate water through a closed loop system to dissipate heat between the servers and chillers without requiring a clean water supply.  ,
The amount of water saved by Microsoft’s Goodyear plant using this new technology, according to an email to Green Living, would be similar to filling ASU’s Olympic-sized competition pool at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center 63 times a year, or only slightly over once per week, according to an email sent to Green Living.  ,
