Data center for Microsoft consumes up to 420M liters of industrial water a week

Pure DC is building a Microsoft-tenant hyperscale data center in Amsterdam’s Westpoort area, sparking criticism over its scale.

Local officials say it will use large amounts of industrial water for cooling and nearly as much electricity as all Amsterdam homes combined.

The project was approved under older rules, split into three permits, and is planned to come online in phases starting in 2028.

The case underscores how AI-era data centers can strain water and power systems while slipping through outdated permitting frameworks.