This document specifies water usage effectiveness (WUE) as a key performance indicator (KPI) for quantifying the water consumption of a data centre during the use phase of the data centre life cycle.

WUE is a simple method for reporting the water intensity of the data centre operating. By reporting water consumption, it is possible to present the data centre's resource effectiveness.

This document:

a) defines the WUE of a data centre;

b) introduces WUE measurement categories;

c) describes the relationship of this KPI to a data centre’s infrastructure, information technology equipment and information technology operations;

d) defines the measurement, the calculation and the reporting of the parameter; and

e) provides information on the correct interpretation of the WUE.