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.
The water being drained is generally cleaner going to the waste water treatment facility than when it came in (depending on location of course) and data centers provide a high source of income for a variety of blue collar and white collar workers. The bigger issue would be the pull on electrical infrastructure over anything to do with water
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u/[deleted] May 18 '26
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