In a surprising twist to water-saving measures, experts are now suggesting that something as simple as deleting old emails could have a substantial impact on conserving water. While hosepipe bans have long been the go-to solution during droughts, the hidden water cost of our digital lives is coming under scrutiny.
The Hidden Water Footprint of Your Inbox
Data centres, which store all our digital information including emails, require massive amounts of water for cooling systems. Every email stored in the cloud contributes to this demand. Researchers estimate that a typical business user's email account could be responsible for thousands of litres of water annually.
How Digital Storage Drains Our Resources
The water usage occurs through:
- Cooling systems in data centres that prevent servers from overheating
- Energy production required to power these facilities
- Manufacturing and maintenance of server hardware
Simple Steps to Make a Difference
Environmental scientists recommend these easy actions:
- Regularly clean out your inbox and delete unnecessary emails
- Unsubscribe from newsletters you don't read
- Use cloud storage more efficiently
- Consider the environmental impact before sending large attachments
While individual actions might seem small, collective changes in digital behaviour could lead to significant water savings across the UK's data infrastructure.
