What Exactly Do Data Centres Do, And Why Do They Need So Much Water?

We asked experts to explain.

As a non-expert in artificial intelligence (AI), I have a vague idea that the tech is responsible for a slew of new data centres that use a lot of water.

But I’d be lying if I said I had a more detailed understanding of what data centres really involve, and why their water consumption is purported to be so high.

That seems remiss, especially given the Environment Agency (EA) previously warned that unless our water is “carefully managed, England will run out of this precious resource at the times we most need it.”

As existing droughts risk continuing into the next year in parts of the UK and after Chancellor John Healey announced a new deal offering data centre developers priority access to the UK’s electricity grid in his first-ever Budget, we thought we’d ask the experts to explain in more detail.

So... what actually is a data........

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