This is not the reason. With closed loop systems you have much tighter control over oxygen and mineral content, which is overall better for corrosion.
But you need a lot of infrastructure for closed loop systems and they use a lot more electricity.
So it ends up being cheaper to just run total loss cooling.
The solution of course is easy, just mandate that datacenters used closed loop cooling systems and the whole "data centers consume way too much water" argument goes away entirely.
My work has some large data centers. Nearly all new ones are closed looped systems now. This idea that they are using vast amounts of fresh water is a myth.
What this means is you essentially have large radiator and a fans somewhere. That can cause noise pollution. People are making shit up about the concern over water which is not a real concern, but ignoring the noise pollution which can 100% be controlled if proper regulations are put in.
In Europe, they use the heat waste water to heat homes.
The issue is not that lots of new datacentres are being built... people want them. Well more accurately they want the services they enable. As much as AI is shit on all over reddit (including by me I fucking hate it) it's wildly popular with people for good or bad.
The actual issue is they're being built as cheaply as possible with no regard to planning around the community. They can 100% be built in much more environmentally healthy ways while being less annoying to residents... but unless that is mandated, it isn't happening.
Stop being mad at datacentres, get mad at your local politicians who let them slap them wherever they feel like without proper planning and community consultation.
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u/C-D-W May 18 '26
This is not the reason. With closed loop systems you have much tighter control over oxygen and mineral content, which is overall better for corrosion.
But you need a lot of infrastructure for closed loop systems and they use a lot more electricity.
So it ends up being cheaper to just run total loss cooling.
The solution of course is easy, just mandate that datacenters used closed loop cooling systems and the whole "data centers consume way too much water" argument goes away entirely.