Among the concerns about the proliferation of data centers in Ohio, water consumption is fairly low on the worry list, according to a new study by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

The organization took a look Ohio’s water resources compared with the rapid growth of data centers across the state and found “Ohio appears broadly capable of supporting near-term data center growth from a water resource perspective in both of the analyzed regions (Columbus and Cincinnati-Dayton), in addition to ongoing water supply for other businesses and residents.

“Data centers and AI infrastructure are the backbone of the modern economy, and Ohio is emerging as one of the nation’s most important growth markets,” said Steve Stivers, president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. “This study shows Ohio is well-positioned to support continued data center growth from a water resource perspective, but it also makes clear that long-term success will rely on thoughtful planning and effective governance going forward.”

That last bit is important. The water resource question is only one of many.

In its projections through 2030 (not nearly as far away as it might feel), the Ohio Chamber of Commerce noted “the extent to which data center growth can be supported will depend much more on infrastructure readiness, power-water coordination, stormwater management and public transportation than on water scarcity.”

Couple those factors with other concerns such as land use, noise and other pollution, minimal job creation and uncertain tax revenue potential, and data centers’ future here remains unclear.

Researchers found that even under “aggressive growth projections” in central Ohio and the Cincinnati-Dayton corridor, “direct water demand from these facilities remains a small fraction of the state’s available resources.”

That’s a little good news, for now.

Now let’s apply the same level of research to getting answers to all the other questions that have prompted a pause in the data center tax exemptions in the state.

We’ve learned a little, and information is a good thing. But there is a LOT left to learn.