Christophe Beck said Ecolab’s $4.75 billion CoolIT acquisition extends its water-management push into direct-to-chip cooling as AI data centers face growing scrutiny over freshwater use.
Ecolab is deepening its bet on AI infrastructure’s water needs, with CEO Christophe Beck saying he has spent $7 billion over six months to address rising data center water usage. The centerpiece is Ecolab’s $4.75 billion cash acquisition of CoolIT Systems, announced in March 2026 and finalized on July 2, 2026, which adds direct-to-chip liquid cooling technology designed to reduce water use and support circular cooling systems. Beck has projected that AI data centers could consume more than 1 trillion gallons of freshwater annually by 2027, underscoring why water management is becoming a key constraint alongside power in the AI buildout. Ecolab says its aim is to help make data centers water-neutral by returning as much clean water to the environment as they consume. The CoolIT deal follows Ecolab’s 2025 acquisition of Ovivo’s electronics unit for $1.8 billion, extending its reach from ultra-pure water used in semiconductor manufacturing into the facilities where chips are deployed. Ecolab, ranked No. 280 on the Fortune 500, said the acquisition is expected to double its addressable market in high-tech water applications from $5 billion to $10 billion, and the company is targeting $4 billion in annual revenue from high-tech applications by 2030.