United KingdomThe Times published an article citing Water UK's estimate that future data centres in the UK could consume up to 42 million litres of water per day during peak times, compared to 14 million litres currently. However, Water UK clarified that this figure refers to 'average peak demands', such as those on hot summer days, rather than the average daily usage. For average daily demand, Water UK stated current usage is around 6.6 million litres per day, which could rise to 19.8 million litres by 2030 if the government's plan to triple data centre capacity is realized. In a worst-case scenario, peak demand could reach 77 million litres per day. The Environment Agency noted that data on water use by data centres is difficult to obtain, though it estimated that England's golf courses have a peak water demand of about 24 million litres per day. The Times later directed Full Fact to an earlier article that correctly cited the figures in relation to average peak demand.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both the claims made by the Times and the clarifications provided by Water UK, offering balanced perspectives without overtly favoring one side. There is no strong indication of biased language, selective sourcing, or omission of critical context.
Why factuality (75): The article accurately reports that Water UK uses different figures for average daily demand versus peak demand, clarifying that the 42 million litre figure refers to peak times. It aligns with the primary source document's discussion of data centres' water use and potential impacts of water scarcit
Why objectivity (85): The article maintains a neutral tone, presenting facts from Water UK and providing context without apparent bias. It clearly explains the discrepancy in figures and offers background information without injecting personal opinion.
