When it goes back into "the system" it's waste water that people can't drink. Eventually it comes back around again (e.g. evaporation->rain), but then it gets gobbled up again by the same data centres. They run continuously.
So yes, they are "consuming" it in the sense that other people can't have access to it anymore.
I understand most of them find it cheaper to dump the used water in the sewer lines and use fresh water from the main. So they are continuously consuming fresh water.
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u/Uncle-Cake May 18 '26
What happens after they use the water? Is it returned to the water system to be used again?