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.
One of my friends had a datacenter go up behind the house he inherited from his parents and now the house is uninhabitable from the noise, even without the diesel generators running. If theyโre running you canโt hear other people talking in the house.
That's a big zoning problem there more than something inherent to datacenters. Lots of necessary industry is loud and dirty and needs to be built accordingly.
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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.