Data Centers
By snowy
@snowy22315 (212788)
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.
10 people like this
10 responses
@snowy22315 (212788)
• United States
2 Sep
Our board of stupid visors..Board of supervisors approved it. All they think about is tax dollars.
4 people like this
@snowy22315 (212788)
• United States
2 Sep
Do companies do crypto mining on a large scale? I thought that was mostly an individual pursuit.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (509295)
• Italy
2 Sep
@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.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (126896)
• United States
2 Sep
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.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (212788)
• United States
2 Sep
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!
2 people like this
@toniganzon (80732)
• Philippines
3 Sep
We are all guilty of contributing to those data centers. We use this technology every single day. We are destroying our own environment. We should come up with something to reverse what we destroyed but I don't know how.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (212788)
• United States
3 Sep
You are right..everyone wants to use it, but then complain about how it is made.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (140355)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Sep
I used to think they could be a good thing for the jobs until I started hearing about the other stuff.
2 people like this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (18979)
• Torrington, Connecticut
2 Sep
Yeah that's a lot of water, not sure if this will be sustainable if they drain the water supply
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (212788)
• United States
2 Sep
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.
2 people like this
@shaggin (75062)
• United States
2 Sep
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 .
2 people like this
@JudyEv (388057)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Sep
@snowy22315 I agree. They use a lot of water and energy.
1 person likes this
@thedevilinme (5556)
• Northampton, England
3 Sep
No escaping them. Need to be built. Cancer cure is in there somewhere
1 person likes this
@mynameiskate (2670)
•
3 Sep
This reminds me of a Tom Cruise movie (2013) Oblivion where in the future this alien ship plants huge devices that suck up earths oceans to produce energy. It is of course fiction but this is not fiction. It is very real and we are doing it to ourselves.
I suppose the earth itself will recycle the evaporated water and deposit it somewhere else. But that doesn't help the people who live around your lake. Sounds like exploitation by business?
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (212788)
• United States
3 Sep
@mynameiskate Amazon owns it. I do think something is going to have to be done.
@mynameiskate (2670)
•
3 Sep
@snowy22315 Now that it is built and I assume making money then perhaps the profit can put something back in order to improve the impact it made? Who owns it?
Recover the moisture coming off the cooling fans for example? If you like I'll ask my AI and see what she can come up with.
1 person likes this
