DCU academic calls for greater transparency on data centre water use

As Ireland faces pressure on its water supply, an opinion article co-authored by DCU Business School’s Dr Aideen O’Dochartaigh calls for greater transparency around the environmental impact of data centres.

Published in The Journal, the article examines the contrast between restrictions placed on households during the current hosepipe ban and the limited public information available on water use by data centres and other large industrial users. It highlights significant gaps in reporting, including the absence of consistent, facility-level data on water consumption, energy use and water abstraction.

The authors argue that reliable information is essential for responsible governance, public debate and informed decision-making. While new EU reporting requirements may improve oversight, they warn that current measures could still leave communities without a clear picture of how individual facilities affect local resources and ecosystems.

Dr O’Dochartaigh, Associate Professor in Accounting at DCU Business School, co-authored the article with Dylan Murphy, a PhD candidate at UCD researching the environmental sustainability of data centres, and Dr Elaine McGoff, Head of Advocacy at An Taisce.

Read the full article in The Journal to explore why the authors believe transparency, accountability and stronger reporting standards are essential as Ireland balances digital growth with environmental sustainability.