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‘Thirsty’ ChatGPT uses four times more water than previously thought
(www.thetimes.com)
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
It highly depends on every data center, but it is very likely that they do use municipal water for cooling. Mainting a Reservoir is extremely expensive for the amount of thermal mass it requires, these things kick off HEAT.
I don't know why they aren't using reclaimed water from treatment plants. I don't see why potable water is necessary as long as the substitute isn't corrosive, but I might be missing something here.
You'd have to get the gray water in, and it's more efficient to just continue treating it and using the municipal water system.