How Rainwater Harvesting Helps Facilities Cut Costs and Boost Sustainability

Why Rainwater Harvesting is the Future of Sustainable Data Center Operations

As data centers continue to scale to meet our growing digital demands, their environmental footprint is becoming harder to ignore — especially when it comes to water usage.

According to the World Economic Forum, a single 1-megawatt (MW) data center can consume up to 26 million liters of water per year just for cooling. That’s the same daily water use as roughly 300,000 people. With many facilities operating well beyond 10 MW, the numbers — and the costs — add up fast.

The Rising Pressure on Water Resources

Facility managers are facing the dual challenge of increasing utility costs and growing scrutiny around sustainability. In many regions, the rising cost of municipal water and the unpredictability of supply are becoming serious operational concerns. Add to that tightening ESG regulations and the pressure to reduce resource consumption, and it’s clear: the current water model for data centers isn’t sustainable.

Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting offers a scalable, cost-effective way to reduce dependence on municipal water systems. By capturing, storing, and reusing rainwater for non-potable functions like cooling and irrigation, facilities can:

• Reduce water bills by 50–70% on average

• Offset reliance on public water infrastructure

• Improve site resiliency and operational independence

• Contribute to LEED and other sustainability certifications

Microsoft, for example, has implemented rainwater harvesting in its Swedish data center, using captured water for humidification and cooling needs. It’s part of a larger shift among enterprise operators looking to align mission-critical infrastructure with long-term sustainability goal.

How Olio Group Helps Facilities Implement Smart Water Solutions

At Olio Group, we’ve partnered with national brands to develop and implement customized rainwater harvesting systems that support both environmental and financial targets.

Our approach includes:

• On-site evaluations to assess rainwater collection potential

• Turnkey installation of storage tanks, filtration, and routing systems

• Ongoing maintenance to ensure peak system performance

• Integration with other CapEx upgrades like storm water routing or wetland planting

The result? Many of our clients see 75–100% reductions in municipal water use for targeted applications — all while improving their sustainability profile and reducing operational risk.

The Bottom Line

If your facilities use large volumes of water or face increasing operational costs, rainwater harvesting offers a proven path to savings and resilience.

Want to explore whether it’s right for your sites? Our team is here to help.

Get a Quote Today

Contact us for a customized Rain Water Harvesting plan that fits your business. Use our quick chat feature on our website at OlioGroupMN.com, or email us directly at operations@oliogroupmn.com.