this post was submitted on 07 Jun 2026
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Technology
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Doesn't the water evaporate and become part of the water cycle? Water can't just disappear? Maybe I'm missing something.
It would be good to cut down water usage... Not just for data centers but also for things like lawns and golf courses.
Yes, the hydrological cycle is global, of course none of the water just disappears. What you're missing is that the usage is local, data servers use mains water most of the time.
Mains water must come from somewhere, the local area has limited processing capabilities, and heavy industrial consumption severely depletes local groundwater reserves faster than natural rainfall can ever replenish them, forcing nearby communities to bear both the ecological and financial costs of a utility network that was almost never designed to handle such strain.
Makes sense - thanks.
Of course! Thanks for asking for clarification.