[hyperhello]

What is it for data centers to use water, precisely? To take cool water in and run it through pipes to produce warm water, then send it to rivers?

[Guthwine]

According to this study[1] "With good water quality, roughly 80% of water withdrawal is evaporated and considered “consumption"" with the rest being discharged to wastewater facilities.

[1] https://arxiv.org/pdf/2304.03271

[ape4]

Couldn't they reuse the water - after it cooled down.

[hyperhello]

Apparently in a closed loop cooling system they do, but in areas where water just runs off the mountains they use evaporation and it reenters the water cycle.

I had to say I was wondering why basic non polluting water use would need special attention like this. Apparently it’s a PR meme to divert attention from real problems.

[epochbtc]

evaporative cooling, which saves on energy costs