Investment will support local water infrastructure, conservation projects and QTS's goal of becoming water positive by 2035
ASHBURN, Va., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- QTS today announced a $1 billion global water stewardship pledge to help achieve the company's goal of becoming water positive by 2035 — restoring, replenishing or protecting more water than QTS withdraws in its current operations. The investment will support water infrastructure improvements, conservation projects and watershed restoration in the communities that QTS calls home.
The initiative builds on QTS's long-standing approach to reducing water demand through its Water-Free Cooling Design while investing in projects that strengthen local water systems and improve water reliability.
"Water is becoming a defining issue for the future of digital infrastructure," said Tag Greason and David Robey, Co-CEOs of QTS. "We believe the best approach starts with using less water. Our Water-Free Cooling Design significantly reduces water use, and this $1 billion commitment will help communities strengthen local water infrastructure and protect resources for the long term."
The initiative focuses on three priorities: continuing to minimize operational water demand, reusing water where practical and replenishing local water resources through infrastructure improvements and nature-based solutions. Because water challenges vary by region, investments will focus on projects that address local community and watershed needs.
Investing in Local Water Solutions
QTS will support projects that deliver measurable benefits for local communities and watersheds, including water infrastructure upgrades, leak reduction, wetland restoration and other conservation efforts. Projects will be developed with community input, with results independently verified and published to ensure measurable results.
Reducing Water Demand
Since 2019, QTS has used its Water-Free Cooling Design to significantly reduce water use compared with traditional evaporative cooling systems. The technology relies on a closed-loop system that does not require ongoing water consumption for cooling and will continue to be deployed across new QTS developments.
Texas: The First Major Investment
Texas provides an early example of how QTS plans to put this commitment into action. The company recently announced plans to invest $250 million in Texas water infrastructure and conservation projects over the next decade, including replacement of the aging water tower in Turkey, Texas. QTS also plans to invest $15 million over the next decade with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to support water conservation and replenishment projects across the state, including leak detection, habitat restoration and irrigation-efficiency improvements.
"This commitment reflects our belief that growth and stewardship go hand in hand," said Greason and Robey. "Our goal is to help communities strengthen the water systems they depend on while continuing to support the growth of digital infrastructure."
"Watersheds in Texas and across the West support communities, ecosystems and industries that are important to the entire country," said Sara Hoversten, Senior Director, Business for Water Stewardship at Bonneville Environmental Foundation. "Protecting and sustaining them requires collaboration across sectors — bringing together investment from businesses like QTS with technical expertise and the knowledge and voices from local communities. We look forward to working with QTS and local partners to support water resilience solutions that meet communities' specific needs and deliver lasting benefits."
QTS plans to announce additional water stewardship projects, partnerships and progress updates as the initiative moves forward.
About QTS Data Centers
QTS is a global data center leader with unrivaled access to scalable infrastructure across North America and Europe. QTS delivers state-of-the-art data center solutions, robust connectivity, and premium customer service to leading hyperscale technology companies, enterprises, and government entities while prioritizing responsible growth and investing in the communities where it builds and operates. QTS is a Blackstone portfolio company. Learn more: Q.com | 877.QTS.DATA
About Bonneville Environmental Foundation
Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is a nonprofit working to build a future where everyone benefits from clean water and clean, affordable energy. Through its Business for Water Stewardship™ and renewable energy programs, BEF brings together corporations, utilities, public agencies, Tribes and community organizations to develop and support water, energy and nature-based climate solutions. By combining corporate investment with local knowledge and technical expertise, BEF helps turn environmental commitments into projects that protect watersheds, lower energy costs and strengthen communities across the United States. Learn more at b-e-f.org.
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SOURCE QTS
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