this kind of story puts the lie to the popular “debunking” of data center water use that’s trotted out by promptfondlers and rats every so often[1] - water isn’t this pervasive resource, evenly distributed around the world. it’s not a fungible resource, because it’s fucking heavy and hard to move, and it’s quite possible to have both way too much and way too little at the same time (flash floods in a desert).

[1] I think the dude’s name is Andy Masley, he’s all over the infosphere with his cod Adam-Smithery

as if they didn’t put enough of a lie to it when they go to court to stop the details being released

well yeah, the “debunking” takes a very high level view that the “average citizen” in the US or wherever shouldn’t care about data center water usage because “on average” the US has plenty of water. But if your local water rates are going through the roof because a DC is built next to your house, you’re not average.

I realize water legislation in esp the Western states of the US is kinda fucked up but in the end growing food and basic hygeine is more important than generating spam, so I don’t think these projects are gonna make it