算力竞赛白热化，家庭用水受影响，美国数据中心和居民区展开抢水大战

Core Viewpoint - The competition among tech giants to build water-intensive data centers for AI capabilities is leading to significant water shortages in local communities, raising concerns about sustainability and resource management [1][2][3] Group 1: Impact on Local Communities - Residents near Meta's $750 million data center in Newton County, Georgia, have experienced severe water pressure issues, affecting their daily water usage [1] - The population of Newton County is approximately 120,000, and the construction of data centers is damaging local groundwater systems, resulting in skyrocketing municipal water costs [2] - A report predicts that by 2030, the area may face serious water shortages, with water rates expected to rise by 33% over the next two years, significantly higher than the usual annual increase of 2% [2] Group 2: Water Consumption by Data Centers - Data centers can consume millions of gallons of water daily to cool processors, with a study estimating global annual water consumption by data centers could reach 1.7 trillion gallons by 2027 [2] - Tech companies prioritize locations with cheap electricity for data centers, often overlooking water resource availability [2] - Major tech firms like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google operate data centers in some of the world's driest regions, with Microsoft reporting that 42% of its water usage comes from "water-scarce areas" [2] Group 3: Industry Response and Future Outlook - Amazon and Google defend their projects by stating they consider water scarcity, while Microsoft declined to comment [3] - Experts suggest that while data centers currently contribute to water shortages, advancements in technology could alleviate these issues through smarter cooling systems and more efficient water infrastructure [3] - The industry is beginning to shift towards sustainable development, acknowledging the need for long-term solutions to manage water resources effectively [3]