this post was submitted on 22 Jan 2026
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https://www.sehn.org/sehn/2025/8/14/data-centers-and-the-water-crisis
You know that using water turns it into wastewater right? Whether it's cooling computers or turning a turbine, the water is contaminated by metals as a direct result of the process.
You know that you can make a water cooled system where the water used to cool system doesn't touch the inner machinery, right?
It is more efficient to run an internal system that doesn't interface with the outside except through radiators. The radiators interface with the external water supply, usually causing the water to evaporate since it is a relatively cheap way to remove thermal energy from a system.
After all, if the water stayed liquid, they could find other ways to cool the water to be reused. The problem with data centers is that they are literally boiling away the local water supply.
You make a point; data centers are indeed boiling away fresh water reserves. But you're also asking what the direct source of pollution is, in order to more effectively argue against the data centers
Because these data centers require energy and cooling, while also working with "razor-thin margins" of AI competition... they are reinvigorating coal and fossil fuels, through use of an existent infrastructure
But also, nobody asked for them to dump billions into this... though dumping the same amount of effort and capital into renewable energy (as well as curbing climate disaster), isn't apparently as readily profitable
It's hard to directly blame "increased pollution" on data centers, because that would be silly to allow such linear blame to be seen, in all the grift. And could also decrease overall profitability if the general public made the connection
The pollution comes from their use of existing infrastructure, while doubly, they could be building renewable infrastructure. It's just not profitable in such a corporate world to do anything but scrape the remnants of a dying world
I'm making sure that the argument is going to be understood by lay people.
It is relatively easy to get people to rally against building a coal power plant in their community. My concern is that people are going to say not to build a data center because it is going to be powered by coal and the data center rep is going to say that a coal power plant isn't going to be built on site.
That data center would still get built because there is going to be a performative meeting where planning officials ban building the power plant, but then a data center operator buys a coal power plant about to be decommissioned and decides to keep it going to fuel the data center without having to go through the planning hurdles of getting that plant built.
I'm just trying to make sure that the arguments make sense to people who aren't thinking through it as much as you.
Many residents' electricity bills are skyrocketing due to the predicted demand of data centers. It's not as hard to convince people to oppose building more if they know it's due to more data centers. The problem is convincing many that it's the reason the bills are so high and not blaming windmill or solar power. The last part isn't always easy.
I completely agree, and it is a good idea to highlight that there will be increased utility bills by allowing for data center construction.
Then don't focus on the pollution, but the fresh water reserves being depleted. Ya got sound thoughts, to me; I wouldn't try to complicate it (if I could help it)
Lay people lie where under scrutiny. Meet them somewheres in the middle, if you're so determined. We're uninformed, not incapable
Exactly. There are good reasons to argue against building data centers, including impacting fresh water resources.
That goes for the piping. But it's it true for the pumps? Are they using pumps that adhere to strict drinking water standards?
Why does it matter when they are going to boil off the water?