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arXiv:2606.21760cs.CY

AI Data Centers and the Water Use Feedback Loop

Basit A. Akinade, Amobichukwu C. Amanambu, Jonathan M. Frame, Shaolei Ren

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Abstract

AI data centres consume water for cooling, water scarcity constrains siting, and AI tools can improve water system efficiency. These dynamics are studied separately yet form a feedback loop. This review formalises the Water and AI Feedback Loop, introduces the Water Consumption Impact index to quantify community-scale utility burden, and demonstrates across ten US sites that burden spans three orders of magnitude, from 0.2% to 134% of host capacity.

arXiv comments
27 pages, 6 figures, includes Supplementary Information
Journal reference
DOI
Subjects
cs.CYComputers and Society

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  1. The Strongest El Niño Ever 1 comment

    • If you think that every data center is now a closed loop system enjoy your propaganda. Colossus 1 and 2 still use open loop systems. And with the case of blow down water that's "returned" it's not usable due to the use of concentrated salts (1,200 to 6,000 mg/L). In your mind…

      windexh8erView on HNParent context

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