Water usage effectiveness, or WUE, is a measure of how much water a data center uses compared with the energy its computers use. It is a simple number that helps operators and communities talk about water.
How WUE is calculated
WUE is the annual water used on site, in liters, divided by the energy used by the IT equipment, in kilowatt hours. A lower number means less water per unit of computing.
What the number leaves out
WUE counts water on site, but not water used to make the electricity. It also does not say where the water came from or how stressed that source is. Two sites with the same score can have very different local impact.
Water and energy trade off
Some cooling designs use more water and less power, while others do the reverse. Operators weigh both based on local climate, cost and rules.
What good reporting looks like
Share WUE along with the water source, local conditions and any reuse. The Green Grid developed the metric and publishes guidance.
The takeaway
Use WUE as one tool, not the whole story. For more, read our guide to water reuse.
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