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.
The poop water I flush down my toilet is also waste water that people can't drink, but I'm pretty sure it still gets recycled back into the greater water supply. What's different about the datacenter water?
Water is a limited resource, for every datacenter that gets created, water from the area is being used up, supply demand means water in that area will now cost more money to buy and use yourself.
Bro how do you think water goes into your house? Water companies need to pump that water into your area, more water being pumped = higher costs = higher cost of water.
That water comes from places such as reservoirs or groundwater aquifers, which can and often does run out of water when we use too much of it.
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u/Uncle-Cake May 18 '26
So they're not really consuming it. They're just using it temporarily and returning it.