Why Are Data Centres Controversial? 9 Myths and the Facts Behind Them
Data centres used to be invisible. Now they’re in the spotlight, and everyone has an opinion.
As AI drives a wave of new builds, more people are curious about what these buildings mean for their water, their energy and their neighbourhoods. That curiosity is a good thing. But a lot of what gets shared online is built on myths.
We work with the people who design, build and run data centres every day, and we see the care and expertise that goes into them. Here are nine of the most common misconceptions, and what’s actually true.
Myth 1: Every data centre drains the local water supply
Fact: Water use depends on how a site is cooled, and many modern sites use very little.
Most data centres use far less water than people think. It depends almost entirely on how the site is cooled. Evaporative cooling uses more water, but the industry is moving quickly towards closed-loop systems, which recirculate the same water, and air-based cooling that uses very little.
The figures back this up. A techUK survey of 73 commercial data centres in England (August 2025) found 51% use waterless cooling, and 64% use less than 10,000 m³ of water a year. That’s less than a typical leisure centre. Only 4% used more than 100,000 m³.
Myth 2: Data centres pollute local water
Fact: Most of the water a data centre uses evaporates, and any water released is tightly regulated.
Most of the water a data centre uses evaporates during cooling rather than being released. Water that is discharged needs a permit, like any other industrial site, and regulators pay close attention to what goes back into the environment.
Permits are issued site by site, so discharge limits reflect local conditions and local waterways. And with closed-loop and waterless cooling becoming more common, many sites discharge little or no cooling water at all.
Myth 3: Living near a data centre is dangerous
Fact: Modern data centres are designed with safety, environmental protection and their surrounding communities in mind.
Data centres don’t emit harmful levels of radiation, and they operate under strict safety and environmental requirements.
They’re also much quieter than many people imagine. Modern cooling technology, acoustic insulation and intelligent building design can significantly reduce noise. In one UK case study, improvements to a data centre reduced noise at neighbouring properties from 48.5 to 36.5 decibels.
Backup generators are generally only used during power interruptions and routine testing, rather than running continuously.
Like any major development, data centres go through careful planning before they’re built. With the right design and safeguards, they operate safely alongside local communities.
Myth 4: Data centres don’t create local jobs
Fact: Data centres create skilled, long-term careers and support a wide network of local businesses.
Every data centre starts with a major construction project, bringing a large workforce of electricians, mechanical engineers, project managers and trades to the area during the build.
Once a site is live, it needs electrical, mechanical and controls engineers, technicians, facilities managers and security teams around the clock, every day of the year. These are skilled roles with real career progression, and many can be filled locally with the right training.
The benefits reach beyond the site itself. Maintenance contractors, equipment suppliers, cleaning and catering firms and local trades all win work from a data centre’s day-to-day operation. Many operators also partner with colleges, universities and apprenticeship schemes to build a local talent pipeline, giving young people a route into a fast-growing industry.
We’re proud to play our part in this. DataX Connect, along with other data centre companies, is a member of the Digital Futures Programme. The programme helps students develop the skills and knowledge they need for a career in the digital industries, with employers helping to deliver lessons, workshops and work placements.
Myth 5: They’re just empty warehouses full of servers
Fact: A modern data centre is one of the most complex buildings you can construct.
Behind the plain walls sit high-voltage substations, backup generators, battery systems, cooling plant and fire suppression, all designed so the site never goes down. Keeping that running takes electrical, mechanical and controls engineers on shift every day of the year. The “empty shed” image comes from the outside, not the inside.
Myth 6: Data centres only consume energy
Fact: Data centres can also provide energy to local communities.
Data centres need power to run, but what many people don’t realise is that the heat generated by their servers can be captured and reused to heat nearby homes, schools and businesses.
And it’s already happening. In Dublin, waste heat from an Amazon data centre is helping heat public buildings, a university campus and 133 apartments, saving over 1,400 tonnes of CO₂ in 2025.
In Finland, a project involving Microsoft is expected to eventually provide around 40% of the district heating needed across three cities.
It’s an exciting example of how data centres can do more than power our digital world. With the right infrastructure, they can also help provide lower-carbon heating for the communities around them.
Myth 7: The cloud isn’t a physical place
Fact: The cloud is a data centre.
Every email, stream, photo backup and AI prompt is processed on servers sitting in a building somewhere. “The cloud” is a useful way to describe services you access over the internet, but it can make the infrastructure behind it feel weightless. It isn’t. It’s real infrastructure, run by skilled engineers and technicians who keep our digital lives working every hour of every day.
Myth 8: Data centres are not good for local communities
Fact: Many data centre operators invest millions in supporting the communities around them.
Beyond creating jobs and supporting local economies, data centre operators are investing in schools, charities, community projects and opportunities for young people.
And the numbers are impressive. Meta has invested more than $94 million in local data centre communities, supporting over 3,700 projects worldwide, from education programmes to community initiatives.
Equinix is another example. In 2025 alone, its employees contributed more than 54,000 volunteering hours, while the company supported thousands of charitable causes.
From funding local sports clubs and improving community spaces to supporting education and digital skills, many data centre operators are committed to being good neighbours and making a positive difference in the places they call home.
Myth 9: Data centres are just being built to support AI
Fact: Data centres support some of the most important services we rely on every day.
While AI is driving significant growth in demand for data centres, their role goes far beyond artificial intelligence.
From hospitals accessing patient records and medical imaging to emergency services coordinating responses, data centres provide the digital infrastructure that helps keep essential services running.
They also support banking and payment systems, transport networks, telecommunications and the technology that keeps businesses and public services connected.
In healthcare alone, data centres help enable everything from remote consultations and diagnostic imaging to the secure storage and sharing of patient information.
AI might be making the headlines, but data centres have been supporting our everyday lives for decades. They’re not just powering the next generation of technology. They’re helping keep the services we depend on running today.
Why understanding data centres matters
Data centres are the backbone of our digital world. From the apps we use every day to the technology transforming healthcare, education and business, they make modern life possible.
But their contribution goes far beyond technology. Data centres create jobs, support local economies, invest in communities and are driving innovation in energy efficiency and sustainability.
As the industry continues to grow, so does the opportunity to help more people understand the important role it plays in our lives.
That’s exactly what Data Centres Explained is working towards. Launched by Kao Data, with techUK as its strategic partner, it makes information about data centres more accessible and easier to understand, helping people discover the industry, the people behind it and the positive impact it can have.
The more people understand about data centres, the more they can appreciate the vital role they play in our future. We all have a part to play in educating people on why they are so important.
Work behind the fence
Curious about what really goes on inside a data centre? The industry needs engineers, technicians and managers who want to build and run the infrastructure everyone relies on.
Explore data centre jobs or find out more about working in data centres: DataX Connect | Global Data Centre Recruitment Specialists
