Thread

1. daedrdev · 1789677377 · focus · HN ↗

   AI does not use much water. If you believe it does, like this article does, you have fallen for propaganda and lies, ironic in a post calling everyone using AI stupid.

   The main cause of water fear mongering is that one woman’s well was dirty during construction of a data center. First construction is not the center running, and having lived on a well they get dirty for all kinds of reasons.

   1. gorjusborg · 1789677809 · focus · HN ↗

      And what are you basing that understanding on?

      <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.eesi.org&#x2F;articles&#x2F;view&#x2F;data-centers-and-water-consumption" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.eesi.org&#x2F;articles&#x2F;view&#x2F;data-centers-and-water-co...

      According to EESI (a bipartisan-founded non-profit), a large data center:

      &gt; can consume up to 5 million gallons per day, equivalent to the water use of a town populated by 10,000 to 50,000 people.

      Also noting that AI datacenters can use more.

      1. 6031769 · 1789678555 · focus · HN ↗

         Consume it how, exactly? Are the staff drinking it all? Because the the kit sure as hell isn&#x27;t. :-&#x2F;

         1. gorjusborg · 1789679234 · focus · HN ↗

            From the article:

            &gt; Approximately 80% of the water (typically freshwater) withdrawn by data centers evaporates, with the remaining water discharged to municipal wastewater facilities.

      2. HedonicEscal8r · 1789678782 · focus · HN ↗

         Is that supposed be a lot? That article states that all US data centers combined consume 450 million gallons a day, equivalent to 90 towns, which does not sound like very much.

         1. gorjusborg · 1789679383 · focus · HN ↗

            I&#x27;m not the one here making assertions, I&#x27;m asking questions of the person making claims. I&#x27;ll leave it to others to judge what is &#x27;a lot&#x27; or &#x27;reasonable&#x27;.

            I don&#x27;t think &#x27;anyone who thinks X is Y&#x27; is a good basis for discussion, which is the real point.

      3. preg_match · 1789685370 · focus · HN ↗

         This sounds like a lot, but it’s actually not very much. I mean, one singular almond requires 1,000 gallons of water. Beef requires shit ton, too.

         Go vegan for a few weeks and you’ve just negated all your AI water use for the rest of your lifetime.

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