> We are also in a time when most people would prefer to use that water for drinking, washing, cleaning… basically anything except data centres.

That is not what is indicated by consumer behavior.

Though it isn't healthiest, people prefer sugar water and so the sugar water companies have been able to afford to acquire water rights and they have driven up the cost of water.

Drilling holes through aquifers and not capping them, over-grazing and over-tilling, and wasteful industry production processes have driven up the cost of water.

Given a low-enough energy cost and basically unlimited salt water from the oceans, we shouldn't be out of water. There should not be coastal water scarcity.

Golf course, chip factory, almonds, fracking, lawns, swimming pools, or purple pipe golf course water?