Water vs. Data: The New Battleground in AI Development
Kathryn Barnwell, a retired English professor from Nanaimo, B.C., has become a vocal opponent of a proposed data centre that raises significant environmental concerns. With fears that these facilities could threaten the city’s water supply, she shares her insights:
- Data Centre Demands: Large data centres consume millions of litres of water daily for cooling, contributing to an alarming strain on local resources.
- Drought Conditions: In regions suffering from water scarcity, the stakes are high. Barnwell argues, “Life on this planet is sustained by water. It is not sustained by data.”
- A National Trend: As Canada embraces the data centre boom, little oversight exists to protect vital water resources.
As tech giants, including Microsoft, ramp up building efforts, the call for awareness and regulations has never been more critical. Are we prioritizing data over our precious drinking water?
Let’s discuss. Share your thoughts and insights below! 🌊💻 #DataCentres #AI #WaterConservation
