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How datacenters use water and why kicking the habit is nearly impossible

Jan 04, 2025 - theregister.com
The article discusses the significant environmental impact of datacenters, particularly focusing on their water consumption. Following the rise of AI technologies like ChatGPT, datacenters have expanded rapidly, consuming vast amounts of water for cooling purposes. In the US, datacenters can use between 300,000 and four million gallons of water daily, contributing to water scarcity issues, especially in arid regions. The article explains that evaporative cooling, a common method used due to its energy efficiency, is a major contributor to water consumption. However, this method is not suitable for all climates, and alternatives like chillers and dry coolers, while reducing direct water use, can increase indirect water consumption due to higher energy demands.

To mitigate water usage, datacenter operators are exploring various strategies, including optimizing water flow rates, employing free cooling in colder climates, and using direct-to-chip and immersion liquid cooling technologies. These methods can improve power use effectiveness (PUE) and reduce water consumption. Additionally, the concept of water-aware computing is introduced, suggesting that workloads could be distributed based on water stress levels and efficiency. The article also highlights the potential for datacenters to invest in desalination and water distribution infrastructure to support evaporative cooling, arguing that this could be more efficient than relying on dry cooling technologies.

Key takeaways:

  • The explosive growth of datacenters due to AI advancements has significantly increased water consumption, raising concerns about water scarcity and environmental impact.
  • Evaporative cooling is a popular method for datacenter cooling due to its energy efficiency, but it consumes large amounts of water, especially in arid regions.
  • Alternative cooling methods like dry coolers and chillers consume more energy, potentially increasing indirect water consumption through power generation.
  • Strategies to reduce water usage include optimizing cooling systems, using liquid cooling, and distributing workloads based on water stress levels and cooling efficiency.
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