Data Centers
By snowy
@snowy22315 (212396)
United States
September 2, 2026 9:48am CST
There has been a lot about data centers in the news lately, and we have a large Amazon run one here that uses evaporative cooling. It uses the lake as its water source for the cooling, and draws about 2.3 billion gallons per day. I didn't notice any real difference the last time I was down there, but last night..there was a definite drop in water level. The shore line normally covered by water was also exposed. The water was more concentrated in a smaller area as well..and it was warmer than expected. Data centers also impact ground water to a certain extent and one person's deep well dropped from about 23 feet to 9 feet. No one here is very happy with this data center..and their wasn't a lot of community involvement on the decision. Combine the data center with the droughts we may well get in the future and you are looking at problems. What is done is done now though..and can't be reversed, unless someone makes AMazon re do the system or something. Our governor who I generally like seems to be data center happy..due to the business draws, and the economy as her whole mission is to make this state more affordable for all, and also to have a very strong economy. As it is, I think VA is one of the best states for business. However, you have to balance economic interests with quality of life, and environmental stewardship and I don't think that is being looked after adequately.
6 people like this
6 responses
@snowy22315 (212396)
• United States
5h
Our board of stupid visors..Board of supervisors approved it. All they think about is tax dollars.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (212396)
• United States
5h
Do companies do crypto mining on a large scale? I thought that was mostly an individual pursuit.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (508738)
• Italy
3h
@snowy22315 - Yes, MARA Holdings, Riot Blockchain, and Core Scientific are among the largest companies engaged in large-scale crypto mining. There are 11 important crypto currencies mining companies.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (126142)
• United States
5h
We’ve got data centers being protested right and left here. One place, and I don’t know how it happened, ended up flooding a neighborhood in the construction of it. They were assured, of course, that that was not a possibility. Of course, they lied.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (212396)
• United States
5h
There are ways to make them so they don't draw water. I think that is a closed loop system. That would definitely be the way to go. However, I suppose they are more expensive. The thing I don't like about the Governor though is that she won't even put a moratorium on construction of these..what's wrong with that, until we see how they work out 5 or 10 years down the road, and so far here at least...not well!
1 person likes this
@shaggin (75018)
• United States
4h
I do not like data centers. I am very worried about our futures with more of these popping up. It’s a scary thought what could happen. I am sorry you have one in your area and am glad people there can see what it’s doing. Maybe eventually it can be stopped but you are right the damage is already done but it could get far worse like you mentioned with droughts .
1 person likes this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (18921)
• Torrington, Connecticut
5h
Yeah that's a lot of water, not sure if this will be sustainable if they drain the water supply
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (212396)
• United States
5h
Actually I had to chance the figure. It turns out it is more like 2.3 billion gallons of water per day. Well, this has been studied, so I suppose it will be. sustainable over time.but if you combine that with future droughts it probably won't be. I think we community members should sue really. THis could well ruin our way of life here. You see it happening already.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (212396)
• United States
41m
People shouldn't be in such a hurry to slap them together. They are already causing environmental damage.
1 person likes this
