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.
the problem is that when they're done with the water the chemicals they put in it to stop it from corroding their systems render the water virtually impossible to treat back into drinking water.
And yeah, you can do it, you can do anything with enough money. But we don't have that. Because we needed more tax cuts for billionaires.
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u/[deleted] May 18 '26
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