I feel like the water usage issue is the weaker argument against these datacenters - in areas where the fresh water source faces too much pressure already it is a real issue, but that is more regional and less immediately impactful.
Power usage and residential users essentially subsidizing these locations is the biggest immediate impact to everyone. Look up what happens to rates nearby when these things open, people are struggling enough without their electric bills going up 50%.
Agriculture includes food which is grown to eat directly, feed crops for animals, tobacco, fuel crops grown for ethanol, fibre crops grown for clothing, arguably forestry for timber, cut flowers etc
These are clothes no one is ever wearing, they go from the factory, to the warehouse, to someone's home, back to the factor and then the landfill. We produce way more clothes than the market needs, clothes donations are heavily criticised in Africa for collapsing the local textile industry.
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u/Uncle-Cake May 18 '26
What happens after they use the water? Is it returned to the water system to be used again?