I’ve recently come across news suggesting that Texans need to limit their shower durations this summer due to the influence of AI. This seems quite strange to me. How is artificial intelligence related to how much water we use for showers? I’m curious to learn more about the situation. Are the data centers really consuming so much water for their cooling systems? Is this actually occurring, or is it just a rumor? Has anyone else in Texas received similar notices regarding reduced water usage? I haven’t seen anything official in Houston, but my neighbor mentioned it. Could someone clarify how AI affects our water supply and why shorter showers may be necessary?
Yeah, the connection’s real but people don’t really get it. Data centers need massive amounts of water for cooling, especially during Texas summers when air cooling just doesn’t cut it. They use evaporative cooling towers that literally burn through water - once it evaporates, it’s gone.
What’s really concerning is AI’s explosive growth. Training large language models means thousands of GPUs running 24/7 for weeks, pumping out insane heat. A single ChatGPT conversation uses about 500ml of water just for cooling.
Timing’s the killer here. Peak AI processing hits right when summer temps max out and municipal water systems are already stretched thin. Austin’s started forcing data centers to use reclaimed water, but tons of existing facilities still drain potable supplies.
I haven’t seen shower restrictions directly blamed on AI in my area, but several Texas cities have rolled out tiered usage policies targeting industrial consumption. Our infrastructure just wasn’t built for this kind of water demand.
Yeah this is happening and gets worse every year. AI training and data centers are massive water hogs.
These server farms need constant cooling to avoid overheating. They use evaporative cooling that burns through millions of gallons daily. Google’s data centers alone use 450 million gallons annually just in Texas.
The crazy part? Most facilities don’t even track their water usage properly. They just guess instead of monitoring actual consumption.
I’ve worked on similar resource monitoring problems and automating the tracking makes a huge difference. You can set up workflows that monitor usage patterns, predict peak demand, and adjust systems before hitting critical thresholds.
This automation could help data centers optimize cooling and help cities manage water distribution during peak summer months. Instead of blanket shower restrictions, you’d have smart allocation based on real-time demand.
For anyone dealing with resource monitoring like this, check out https://latenode.com
for sure! i read that these data centers need tons of water to keep cool, like a crazy amount! Even in dallas, some of my pals are saying the same, but no official word yet. this summer might be rough with water limits, no doubt.