Most AI data centres use evaporative cooling. One of the linked sources talks about this; that 7 billion cubic metres metric is how much water gets evaporated into the air. (which makes that water no longer usable for drinking/watering crops/etc)
Don't forget about my favorite part of chilled water loops—the toxic chemicals that lowest bidders are contracted to dispose of.
Source: Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)
Evaporation Process: Roughly 80% of the water evaporates, cooling the servers, while minerals, microorganisms, and chemical additives (like anti-corrosion or anti-scaling agents) remain in the remaining 20% liquid, which is later discharged.
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Most AI data centres use evaporative cooling. One of the linked sources talks about this; that 7 billion cubic metres metric is how much water gets evaporated into the air. (which makes that water no longer usable for drinking/watering crops/etc)
Don't forget about my favorite part of chilled water loops—the toxic chemicals that lowest bidders are contracted to dispose of.
Source: Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)