[frank ballenger]

Could someone more knowledgeable than I (lots of you) help me find which is true:

1) Data centers cause big use of water and the local region has to give it up, causing shortages and higher water bills to residents.

2) Sen. Ted Cruz said: Older data centers use a lot of water but many new ones being built have closed loop water systems that use the same water inside them.

[sjmjax]

That’s been a big question in my mind ever since this controversy began.

Why aren’t they using a closed loop cooling system?

[central_va]

The new DCs use as much water as a golf course.

[Theoria]

There is always a trade off, you can't escape equivilent exchange or thermodynamics.

The water use is compensated by higher electricity usage, or some other equivalence.

[PIF]

1) Data centers cause big use of water and the local region has to give it up, causing shortages and higher water bills to residents.

2) Sen. Ted Cruz said: Older data centers use a lot of water but many new ones being built have closed loop water systems that use the same water inside them.
—

2 is true and some use air for cooling, not water.