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Improper redaction reveals Google Data Center water and electricity usage

356 points · 458 comments · sensanaty

aliasxneo · 1791145670 · focus · HN ↗
I lived in a smaller rural town near a Google datacenter. During my career there I had routinely come across some outlandish accusations made about our water/power usage from the locals. But for obvious reasons I could never dispute them. I remember we hired a local who'd grown up in the town and he was "really surprised" when he started to see what we were doing to remain efficient.
The current data center craze just feels like the same thing but on a bigger scale.
1. michaelt · 1791147121 · focus · HN ↗
  > I had routinely come across some outlandish accusations made about our water/power usage from the locals. But for obvious reasons I could never dispute them.
  It'd be pretty easy for the company to dispel those outlandish accusations - the PR department could just report the true numbers.
  1. therealpygon · 1791147878 · focus · HN ↗
    Data centers tend to be higher security facilities for a reason. Publicizing any of their technical specs isn’t really beneficial, especially when any numbers that are provided will be dismissed unless even more information is provided to back them up.
    Effectively no reward at any risk level, regardless of whether one agrees if there is actually any risk.
    bluealienpie · 1791148224 · focus · HN ↗
    It’s not high security if everyone is mandated to do it. Power consumption, energy sources, water usage for coolant, waste water treatment plan, etc.
    I think the disinformation is people thinking that data centers directly use vast quantities of water. What happens is the power use stresses water supplies in local areas.
    <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/08/datacenter-ai-drought-water" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/08/datacenter-a...

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