Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Yasmin Qureshi (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 September 2026. It was answered by Emma Hardy (Labour) on Monday, 14 September 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Data Centres: Water Supply

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the water demand of new and planned datacentres, and whether she has made an assessment of the potential risk of their designation as critical national infrastructure taking priority over household water use during drought conditions.

Answer

As the data centre sector grows, Defra is working across Government and with the Environment Agency to better understand this growth and reduce its impact.

Protecting public water supplies for households and businesses remains a priority during periods of acute water stress. Critical national infrastructure status does not create a general obligation on water companies to provide water for cooling. The Security and Emergency Measures Direction requires water companies, when preparing emergency plans, to identify and prioritise vulnerable customers, while also having regard to the needs of non-domestic users and any notified Critical National Infrastructure.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
27892
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Infrastructure Droughts Water supply Data centres
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk