Water demand depends heavily on the cooling design, climate, workload, and whether the facility uses potable, reclaimed, or other water supplies. A national average cannot answer a local project question.
The key local facts are annual and peak demand, source of supply, cooling mode, drought contingencies, and whether usage is publicly reported.
What to verify locally: Use the page checklist when a developer gives broad assurances without project-specific numbers.
Water-use questions
Use original public records whenever possible. A developer statement can explain an intent; an approval, permit, or utility filing is where enforceable details are more likely to appear.
Cooling design basics
Record the date, document title, agency, page number, and project address. That turns a claim into something another reader can check.
Evidence standard: this guide avoids treating a proposal as a completed project, and avoids treating a missing record as proof that no impact exists.