Quincy to Invest in Water Softening for Data Centers

The Quincy City Council recently voted to approve a project that would improve their water softening system for data centers.

City Administrator Pat Haley said the problem stems from the hard water from their aquifers damaging equipment within to the local data centers' cooling systems over time.

"They have recycling systems so they run that water through several times, not too unlike a radiator." Haley explained, "What happens is that calcium in the hard water will build up inside those systems and limit the ability for the cooling system to work."

The project is estimated to cost $604,513.

The city will initiate the project's construction and pay for it via bond. The data centers will then reimburse the city through an increase to their rates.

Haley expects the project to take from one to two months to complete. The hope is improvements will be in place before the summer.