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"consumed" means it was used for evaporated cooling and let off into the atmosphere. It's obviously a resource that replenishes, but wells replenish at a limite
by zug_zug 2mo ago
"consumed" means it was used for evaporated cooling and let off into the atmosphere. It's obviously a resource that replenishes, but wells replenish at a limited rate [and can run dry] so it's not a negligible issue.
Feel free to google this yourself, or ironically ask an AI, it'll happily confirm it's a real issue.
- dgellow 2mo agoThere is also the issue that evaporated water doesn’t necessarily go back to the original water source
- quickthrowman 2mo agoWhat if it’s in an area where there is abundant surface water and 40” of precipitation per year? Not every data center pumps groundwater.
- bryanlarsen 2mo agoThat's a small portion of the consumption. According to the article, the vast majority of the water is for electricity generation, and the vast majority of that water is from hydroelectric power generation. Hydroelectric generation does not evaporate the water, it releases it downstream in a clean, usable form.
- zug_zug 2mo agoThe title seems to be accidentally confusing, the 17 billion is ALL evaporative. If we want the other 80% (which I don't personally think we care about) 211 billion more.
- whycome 2mo agoCan that vapor be captured and condensed again? The energy transfer of evaporation happens before it reaches the cooling tower exit. It's a conservation of energy thing for sure but condensation is doable.