There will undoubtedly be some level of contamination.
Comment on What's the deal with AI datacenters using water for cooling?
MorningWood@anarchist.nexus 2 weeks ago
The water is used to absorb heat and reject it outside. It will not be contaminate. It evaporates into the air which depletes local water supply. Could it come back? Sure. Can you guarantee it will? No.
Agriculture by and large still uses the most water but in the year of our lord 2026 theres no reason to not be building closed loop data centers. Evaporative cooling is mostly done in places where water is cheaper than power. Its still grossly irresponsible but that doesnt matter if their arent laws on the books.
JiveTurkey@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
MorningWood@anarchist.nexus 2 weeks ago
No more than any normal level of evaporated water in the area. Its literally just water evaporating from heat.
backalleycoyote@lemmy.today 2 weeks ago
Agriculture’s use has been eliminated. The farmers and ranchers who voted for this regime will be out of business by the time the data centers are up and running because ICE kidnapped all their laborers. The only jobs left will be guarding the centers from Antifa.