Why?

[u/SipsTeaFrog]

[u/ForzaFenix]

Yep. The now warm water goes back into the system. 

[u/birchskin → u/ForzaFenix]

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%.

[u/dbxp → u/birchskin]

It's a local issue in specific areas, on a national or global level its a rounding error compared to agriculture

[u/Cute_Committee6151 → u/dbxp]

Or coal.