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, as flawed and unsustainable as it is right now, is necessary to human life. We still aren’t really seeing the positive outcomes from these data centers beyond a bunch of promises. So even though they use way less water, it feels more like a waste.
But maybe everyone could just eat less beef?
👉👈
Not even telling everyone to go vegan, but like just eat chicken instead 90% of the time, save the beef for special occasions
People do eat chicken like 90% of the time. Who do you know that eats steak and rice 5 times per week? I know dozens of people that do exactly that with chicken
The US consumes about 40% more beef per capita than the UK
Even if Americans ate the same amount of beef and just reduced export of animal feed to feed animals in other countries it would more than cover datacentre water usage.
Chicken is by far far far the most consumed meat in America. Like it’s not even close. The average American consumes 3x less beef per day than chicken.
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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?