[mmh0000]

  > Most water use in data centers should be able to be self-sufficient, mostly closed

[Citation Needed]

My understanding is that data centers CAN use closed-loop systems. But, most don't if they're not forced to, because it costs more than evaporating towers.

According to this[1], 88% of water-cooled data-centers use open-loop evaporation towers.

"up to 85% of the water data centers use evaporates and does not return to the water supply" [2]

[1] https://intelligence.uptimeinstitute.com/sites/default/files...

[2] https://mostpolicyinitiative.org/science-note/data-center-wa...

[Ferret7446]

> up to 85% of the water data centers use evaporates and does not return to the water supply

Because the water vapor undergoes antimatter annihilation in the atmosphere so the molecules disappear I suppose?

[tzs]

It ends up in someone's water supply, evntually, but not necessarily the water supply they got it from.

[muwtyhg]

No one is saying the water is destroyed, but it is removed from the local community that depends on it at a significantly faster rate when used this way.

[apple4ever]

Which seems incredibly inefficient and expensive. I find it hard to believe.