> Most water use in data centers should be able to be self-sufficient, mostly closed
My understanding is that data centers CAN use closed-loop systems. But, most don't if they're not forced to, because it costs more than evaporating towers.
According to this[1], 88% of water-cooled data-centers use open-loop evaporation towers.
"up to 85% of the water data centers use evaporates and does not return to the water supply" [2]
[1] https://intelligence.uptimeinstitute.com/sites/default/files...
[2] https://mostpolicyinitiative.org/science-note/data-center-wa...