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I am surprised by your analytical mistake of comparing irrigation water with data-center water usage... They are not equivalent. Data centers primarily consume

by belter 11mo ago

I am surprised by your analytical mistake of comparing irrigation water with data-center water usage... They are not equivalent. Data centers primarily consume potable water, whereas irrigation uses non-potable or agricultural-grade water. Mixing the two leads to misleading conclusions on the impact.

simonw 11mo ago
That's a really good point - you're right, comparing data center usage to potable water usage by towns is a different and more valid comparison than comparing with water for irrigation.
- wasabi991011 11mo ago
  They made a good point, but keep in mind that they're doing a "rules for thee, not for me" sometimes. The same person who mentioned potable water being an important distinction also cited a report on data center water consumption that did not make the distinction (where the 628M number came from).
- belter 11mo ago
  The problem is many data centers are in areas where water systems are supply constrained... - https://spectrum.ieee.org/ai-water-usage https://spectrum.ieee.org/ai-water-usage
wasabi991011 11mo ago
This is not a distinction that your second link (that has the 628M number) was making either > water evaporation from hydroelectric dam reservoirs in their water use calculations
- belter 11mo ago
  The factual soundness of my argument is independent of the report quality :-) the report influences comprehension, not correctness... The fact data centers are already having a major impact on the public water supply systems is known, by the decisions some local governments are forced to do, if you care to investigate... https://spectrum.ieee.org/ai-water-usage https://spectrum.ieee.org/ai-water-usage "...in some regions where data centers are concentrated—and especially in regions already facing shortages—the strain on local water systems can be significant. Bloomberg News reports that about two-thirds of U.S. data centers built since 2022 are in high water-stress areas. In Newton County, Georgia, some proposed data centers have reportedly requested more water per day than the entire county uses daily. Officials there now face tough choices: reject new projects, require alternative water-efficient cooling systems, invest in costly infrastructure upgrades, or risk imposing water rationing on residents...." https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-ai-impacts-data-centers-water-data/ https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-ai-impacts-data-cent...

by belter 11mo ago

simonw 11mo ago

That's a really good point - you're right, comparing data center usage to potable water usage by towns is a different and more valid comparison than comparing with water for irrigation.

wasabi991011 11mo ago
They made a good point, but keep in mind that they're doing a "rules for thee, not for me" sometimes. The same person who mentioned potable water being an important distinction also cited a report on data center water consumption that did not make the distinction (where the 628M number came from).
belter 11mo ago
The problem is many data centers are in areas where water systems are supply constrained... - https://spectrum.ieee.org/ai-water-usage https://spectrum.ieee.org/ai-water-usage

wasabi991011 11mo ago

This is not a distinction that your second link (that has the 628M number) was making either > water evaporation from hydroelectric dam reservoirs in their water use calculations

belter 11mo ago
The factual soundness of my argument is independent of the report quality :-) the report influences comprehension, not correctness... The fact data centers are already having a major impact on the public water supply systems is known, by the decisions some local governments are forced to do, if you care to investigate... https://spectrum.ieee.org/ai-water-usage https://spectrum.ieee.org/ai-water-usage "...in some regions where data centers are concentrated—and especially in regions already facing shortages—the strain on local water systems can be significant. Bloomberg News reports that about two-thirds of U.S. data centers built since 2022 are in high water-stress areas. In Newton County, Georgia, some proposed data centers have reportedly requested more water per day than the entire county uses daily. Officials there now face tough choices: reject new projects, require alternative water-efficient cooling systems, invest in costly infrastructure upgrades, or risk imposing water rationing on residents...." https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-ai-impacts-data-centers-water-data/ https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-ai-impacts-data-cent...