An industrial park in Colon, Querétaro, Mexico. Datacentres need water to stay cool and it is unclear to what extent this will impact the local water supplies.An industrial park in Colon, Querétaro, Mexico. Datacentres need water to stay cool and it is unclear to what extent this will impact the local water supplies.
This is a boon for business in Querétaro. It creates a surge in construction and requires a network of suppliers to maintain and update the hardware. It also brings a limited number of well-paid jobs, and positions the state as a hi-tech hub. But what datacentres need most is reliable access to two essential elements: electricity and water. And water, in particular, is a tense issue in Querétaro.he growth of Querétaro city and its industries, which include car and aerospace manufacturing, had already started to overstretch its underground aquifers two decades ago.
The communities marched to the city of Querétaro in October last year and conducted a sit-in in the Plaza de Armas square, which led towith the state government, including on water provision. If the government does not keep its word, they promise to march again. “And this time not to Querétaro, but to Mexico City,” says Ortiz.However, the opposition accuses the state government of prioritising industrial water needs over those of its citizens.
Google also said its investments in Querétaro are expected to contribute $11.2bn to the country’s GDP and create over 117,000 jobs by 2030. , the public scrutiny of datacentres has incentivised companies to focus on reducing on-site water use, even if it means increasing overall water use when you include off-site electricity generation.