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How data centers cool servers — and why some methods can drain municipal water supplies
Summary
DPW&T explained four cooling methods — air-cooled, open-loop evaporative, closed-loop recirculating and direct liquid immersion — and described tradeoffs: air cooling uses more electricity but little municipal water; open-loop evaporative systems use the most water; closed-loop can cut water use but costs more; immersion reduces water use but can introduce PFAS disposal concerns.
Baltimore County DPW&T staff outlined the cooling technologies data centers use and the water‑use tradeoffs that matter for county planning.
DPW&T described four principal cooling approaches: air‑cooled systems (minimal water use but higher electricity demand); open‑loop evaporative cooling (cooling towers that rely on evaporation and can be water‑intensive); closed‑loop recirculating systems (sealed recirculation that can reduce water use, cited…
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