I see a post every once in a while about how much water data centers are using. I always wonder how accurate they are. What are they relying on to get those figures?
But, what bothers me more is that they then go on to say this is nothing compared to the amount of water golf courses use or that people use water their lawns. That might be true, but, it seems those posts are implying that we should then no longer worry about the amount of water that data centers are using. Or that we're now building lots more and bigger ones.
Anyway, glad you're now able to get a handle on this.
Good questions. I’ve actually seen Gerry McGovern writing about data center water use for a few years now — what feels new isn’t that the water use exists, but that companies are finally being pushed to disclose their own numbers, rather than us relying on outside estimates. 😊
On golf courses — I don’t know the figures either, but I’d believe they’re high. Here in Denmark, lawns have gone pretty brown this summer, and keeping grass green through a dry summer takes real water, so a golf course is probably worse.
In WA state, my grass was green during the summer. My neighbor's lawns were all brown. Difference, I didn't cut my grass. Not saying that all tall grass will stay green, but mine did. Then, the home owners situation declared my grass a fire hazard. So, I took out my grass and let the wildflowers come in. Those plants also stayed green during the summer.
Golf Courses. My understanding is the use a special type of grass on golf courses - don't recall what kind. Probably it takes more water. At the same time some golf courses track the cost of water and watering. But, I suspect you're correct that golf courses use a lot of water.
I see a post every once in a while about how much water data centers are using. I always wonder how accurate they are. What are they relying on to get those figures?
But, what bothers me more is that they then go on to say this is nothing compared to the amount of water golf courses use or that people use water their lawns. That might be true, but, it seems those posts are implying that we should then no longer worry about the amount of water that data centers are using. Or that we're now building lots more and bigger ones.
Anyway, glad you're now able to get a handle on this.
Good questions. I’ve actually seen Gerry McGovern writing about data center water use for a few years now — what feels new isn’t that the water use exists, but that companies are finally being pushed to disclose their own numbers, rather than us relying on outside estimates. 😊
On golf courses — I don’t know the figures either, but I’d believe they’re high. Here in Denmark, lawns have gone pretty brown this summer, and keeping grass green through a dry summer takes real water, so a golf course is probably worse.
In WA state, my grass was green during the summer. My neighbor's lawns were all brown. Difference, I didn't cut my grass. Not saying that all tall grass will stay green, but mine did. Then, the home owners situation declared my grass a fire hazard. So, I took out my grass and let the wildflowers come in. Those plants also stayed green during the summer.
Golf Courses. My understanding is the use a special type of grass on golf courses - don't recall what kind. Probably it takes more water. At the same time some golf courses track the cost of water and watering. But, I suspect you're correct that golf courses use a lot of water.