. According to analysis by the Guardian, two-thirds of planned datacentres in the US are in drought-stricken areas. The larger centres need up to 5m gallons of water a day for cooling, equivalent to the average usage of 50,000 people. It is unclear what the plan is and whose needs will take priority between AI, agriculture and everyone else.
“People are reporting bill spikes,” [Erin]Brockovich says, reading an email from someone who says their monthly water bill went from $22 (£17) to more than $350 (£265). The threat of these centres is about more than money – it feels existential. “How will the water use disrupt the balance of nature? People are asking: “What will happen to us?”
Are there fishes inside data center water reservoirs because there are in golf course ponds. You can even fish there.
Most data centers draw their water from municipal sources, which are largely natural or engineered reservoirs, so I’d wager that yes, there are fish in those reservoirs. Depending on local rules, new industrial campuses are required to have their own drainage ponds for storm runoff, so it’s likely that many of those data center drainage ponds would also be home to some wildlife.
Not defending data center water usage, just answering your question. Additionally, fishing is far from the reason why golf courses consume so much water, it’s just a happy little side hustle. If it were then what your statement is alluding to might, dare I say, carry more water.