Independent research practice · UK
Water demand.
Evidence in view.
Independent intelligence on data centre water use.
The UK Data Centre Water Index by Water Compute is a free, public dataset of planned UK data centre water demand, cooling design and local water-resource context. Every figure traces to a named planning document or operator disclosure. Every estimate is published as a range with its method.
Planned launch · October 2026
Planned demand
Central estimate, range and peak-day water for each site, with units kept visible and the source beside the figure.
Local context
Each site is placed in its Water Resource Zone and Environment Agency catchment, alongside its heat-rejection design.
Open methods
The methodology is public and is being reviewed by an independent water-resources professional before any site-level figure is published.
A record you can inspect.
Each site entry will put the source next to the figure. Estimates carry a range and a method. Where the evidence is missing, the entry says so rather than filling the gap.
Every operator named in the Index is sent its draft entry before publication, and disclosed figures replace estimates wherever an operator supplies them.
Evidence comes before the band.
Disclosure is recognised as a contribution to the evidence record. A disclosure label does not imply an independent audit.
Independent by design.
Water Compute is a commercial research practice. Alongside the free public Index it prepares planning-stage water deliverability assessments for developers and their planning consultants.
Every commercial relationship will be published on this site. Clients and non-clients receive the same evidence rules, scores and labels, and payment does not determine an entry's outcome.
Who is behind it.
Water Compute is run by Malcolm Bailey, a software engineer with around thirty years in the data centre industry on the software side. He holds no water resources or building-services qualifications; that is why the methodology is reviewed independently before publication.
Contact
Operators, water companies and planning authorities who hold figures for a site are welcome to send them ahead of launch. Include the site, the document title and a link to the supporting source.