WATER USE, EXPLAINED
Water use is determined largely by cooling design
The cooling method is chosen during a facility’s engineering and development. Some systems consume water continuously; others recirculate it or use air instead.
COOLING DESIGN
Closed-loop systems recirculate cooling fluid
Computing equipment generates heat, so every data center needs a reliable way to remove it. In a closed-loop system the same fluid is circulated, with only limited makeup water required as needed for operations.
Riot does not use evaporative cooling.
Riot uses air-cooled and closed-loop systems that recirculate cooling fluid instead of evaporating water to remove heat.
+ Relative water use by cooling method
BY SITE
How water is used at our Texas campuses
Rockdale
Industrial water use from Alcoa Lake
Water associated with our operations is actively monitored and tested, with treated water returned in accordance with applicable requirements. Riot does not draw from water supplies used by the surrounding community for household needs.
Corsicana
As the site transitions toward data center operations and incorporates more water-efficient cooling systems, Riot expects that percentage to decrease significantly.
MYTH AND FACT
“Data centers drain the local water supply.”
Tap for the fact →Water use depends heavily on how a data center is designed and cooled. Riot is incorporating air-cooled and closed-loop cooling systems that significantly reduce the need for ongoing water consumption for cooling. At Corsicana, current water usage represents less than 2% of the city’s total daily water usage, expected to decrease to approximately 0.25% as the campus transitions further toward data center operations.
Source: site water permits, city usage dataCOMMON QUESTION
Does the facility use the same water my household does?
At Rockdale, Riot uses water from Alcoa Lake for industrial purposes and does not draw from supplies used by the surrounding community for household needs. Closed-loop cooling recirculates fluid rather than continuously consuming fresh water.
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