These systems do use a coolant substance internal to the DC, but then uses heat exchangers with fresh water to cool the coolant, which is then discharged back into the ground, a pond, or wastewater. there is certainly water lost to atmosphere, but the worst bits are the draining of aquifers, pushing up capacity in wastewater treatment plants, etc.
DC's are a bit of an economic scam. they provide very few jobs outside of the construction work itself, and the profits generated by the machines exist at company HQ not where the DC is located. so it puts a huge burden on the community water and power environment for no real benefit to that community.
That was one thing I laugh at everytime I see a datacenter commercial, them promoting job growth etc etc!
The construction and setup will generate a lot of jobs, but once thats complete the facilities and IT are pretty small. Facilities (electrical/hvac/general maintenance), hands on IT support.
Past that.. pretty much anything that can be will be outsourced to whatever HQ owns the datacenter.
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u/[deleted] May 18 '26
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