sanitationAI data center project secretly sucked 29 million gallons of water over 15 months before...
darctonesEquivalent to 200-300 homes.
29MG / 15 months = 65 kGPD
With average usage of 200 to 250 GPD/home
"had been drawing roughly 29 million gallons through two water connections the county didn't know existed", kinda neat isn't it... just an oopsie-woopsie.
Ironic coming from Tom’s Slopware
The worst part is this:
officials refuse to fine builders of massive 6.2 million-square-foot facility over unauthorized water use
I'm sorry, what? Okay, I'm in the UK, but if I'm just two months late with my water bill (which happens as Thames Water is the most un-fucking-reliable piece of shit money grabber company who can't even deal with a proper billing software to ensure people get their bills on time!), I get fined up to 50% of my bill amount, and within 3 months of not paying, I can get dragged in front of a judge for non-payment. But this one company illegally uses a shitton more water and they don't even get prosecuted for it, or fined, nothing?
Now, I live alone and travel a bunch, so my water usage is somewhat low - about 5 to 10 cubic meters a month (depending on season, since I'm billed biannually, I see that meter readings are between 30 and 60 cubic meters per 6 month periods). 29 million gallons are approximately 110 THOUSAND cubic meters. That's the equivalent of my water use for over 1200 years!
So I guess the deciding factor is usage. If I don't pay a regular bill I get fined, if I somehow manage to use 1000x more water then I'm off the hook?
Rules for thee, etc. But yes essentially no-one is paying the judges at your Thames Water hearing to dismiss the fine because they have a vested interest in you succeeding. You’re not a vehicle for consumption and subjugation of millions, and you won’t make anyone a billionaire.
Things like this disparity made the gravity-assisted equalizing machine popular in France.
FredselfishBecause it was taken unnoticed. Only the residents didn’t know. The city and the water department were 100% aware were all that water went.