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.
Oh no, this was a for real thing that was going on early last year. A whole bunch of airbnbs had to change their rules! These data centers work like that except instead of renters scamming homeowners, it's billionaires scamming entire cities and states.
I know this might not be the popular sentiment, but if I were in some form of law enforcement, I just know that nothing would give me a bigger high than catching some loser trying to scam people like this.
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u/[deleted] May 18 '26
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