Intelligence is thirsty

WALTHAM CROSS, England, Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Google proudly announced the launch of its data centre in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, as part of a bold £5 billion investment in the UK over two years. Inaugurated today by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, this cutting-edge data centre is poised to meet the surging demand for Google's AI-driven services such as Google Cloud, Workspace, Search, and Maps, which are essential tools for individuals, businesses, and public organisations nationwide.

A frequently mentioned statistic is that a single interaction with a large language model like GPT-3 can use about 500 millilitres (around half a litre) of water for every 10 to 50 prompts, depending on the location and data centre. While this might appear minimal, when multiplied by billions of daily user interactions, the total becomes immense.

In 2022, Google's data centres consumed over 21 billion litres of potable water, marking a 20% increase from the previous year. Microsoft's water usage surged by 34% in the same period, reaching nearly 6.4 million cubic meters.

Affinity Water is the local supplier to Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, so who gives Google permission to simply turn up and use it?

Image courtesy of WestWater Research. All rights reserved.

Up to 5 million gallons of water per day.

That’s what estimates say it takes to cool down the supercomputer known as xAI in South Memphis. say it takes to cool down the supercomputer known as xAI in South Memphis. (june 2025) According to our beloved Erin. https://www.thebrockovichreport.com/p/a-new-polluting-factory-outside-memphis?r=p80ie&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

Here in the UK, things could be different, they need to be different and assurances can be found that they will be different In fact the UK have led the way on membrane innovation since the 1960s.

Zero discharge Secure loops are a certainty, and we are grateful of the know how.

In fact its not too hard. Its the scale that will do your head in.

We mentioned this process a few years back with our shower recycling innovation. Insert Link Fill it up, use it, capture it, use it again.

IMPORTANT POINT Fill it up, use it, capture it, use it again.

The focus needs to move towards wastewater recycling, but regardless of your source plans

If this drawing below is an accurate illustration of the intended water flow process for your data centre, call me sooner rather than later.

Tutelage these last 7 years allows me to understand the following flaws in this diagram.

Inefficiency

misplaced engineering

Increase in service costs Serious environmental impact

Data Centre water flow process image from google Sept 2025

No, I'm not going to explain myself, that is what business is about.

I hope to hear from you soon, and thanks for passing by.

Mark

CEO & Founder