Did you actually read that report? Did you actually dig into those numbers? Let me walk you through just one example. On page 5, the report asserts that Google's Council Bluffs data center used 980 million gallons of water, citing Google's own environmental report. Great, we can verify that Google does indeed report that it used 980 million gallons of water in Council Bluffs. Next, it asserts that 980 million gallons of water is equivalent to the consumption of over 4 million homes. Wait, what? The average household consumes 300 gallons per water per day (https://www.epa.gov/watersense/how-we-use-water). That's 109,500 gallons per household per year (300*365), which means that the Google data center's water consumption is on par with 9,000 homes, not 4,000,000 homes! The estimate from the report is off by several orders of magnitude! |
It still doesn't contradict my statement (and your attempt to dismiss it) that data centers use a shit ton of water. It's ridiculous because, of course, they do. Multiply that by numerous data centers in VA and you will not have any water left for homes. I also love how you never even addressed the warming effects or the noise pollution. Why is that? What good do those data centers currently bring to our communities? |
I see that you're one of the folks that Churchill would've characterized as "often wrong, never in doubt." If you see the basic arithmetic error in the report that you blindly trust - for some reason - but still assert that data centers use a shit ton of water "because, of course, they do" and further assert that by multiplying data center water consumption "numerous" times, "you will not have any water left for homes," you are a lost cause. I can't reason you out of a position that you didn't reason yourself into. When you're ready to join the rest of us living in the real world, let me know. |
| Data Centers are using substantial amounts of water in the Potomac River Basin and it could become a large problem. Here is a cheat sheet with the relevant points: https://www.potomacriver.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ICPRB.DataCentersandWaterUse.ICPRB_.March2026.pdf |
I don't know what to tell you. Louise Lucas wants that sweet, sweet sales tax money. NoVA is getting more data centers. After all, she doesn't live here. |
What exactly am I wrong about? ππ nothing you said disproves they are using a lot more water than you originally claimed. You also refuse to address other issues with data centers or even explain what they are good for. You have nothing by cheap personal insults. |
My original claim, which you can see on this thread, is that data center water usage is a drop in the bucket compared to our overall usage. It is. You are wrong. That you think nothing I've said disproves that they are using a "shit ton" of water is, uh, concerning. |
Haha no dude. A simple google search proved you wrong. |
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They use water - lots of water and pollute it
Water Authority Releases Google Data Center Records Ahead of Scheduled Contempt Hearing; The authority agreed to provide the project 2 million gallons of water daily & a wastewater capacity of 570,000 gallons daily. Climbing to 8 million gallons of water daily based on future expansion, the final contracts reveal. https://www.roanokerambler.com/water-authority-releases-google-data-center-records-ahead-scheduled-contempt-hearing/ |
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To all the people yapping about OMG WATER.
Please understand that we have a lot of water and it is no way a resource that is constrained in any fashion whatsoever. At all. Water is cheap. It's everywhere. We know how to get it and clean it and serve it. These data centers aren't stealing a water glass from granny, don't worry. Please harp on something else. |
"Arguing with an idiot is like playing chess with a pigeon. It'll just knock over the pieces, shit on the board and strut about like it's won anyway" |
| Itβs going to be pretty interesting when these data centers result in mass layoffs in the tech heavy companies that helped nova grow. I find it hard to reconcile the competing claims about pollution and water use but I have no doubt that tech companies arenβt investing billions in these data centers as a means to fuel job growth but instead as a means to scale back on human labor. |
As long as they pay their property taxes, the local governments will be happy. |