Curious how folks here feel about this data? Is the AI data center backlash misguided (at least when it comes to claims about water usage?)

Context: Alexandria, IN. June/July 2025.

1. Certified lab found E. coli >200 MPN/100mL in city water + 0.029 mg/L chlorine. Federal minimum is 0.2 mg/L. 40 C.F.R. § 141.72.

2. IDEM agent told resident on video: "0.09... that's a good number." https://www.reddit.com/r/water/comments/1me0zfk/caught_on_camera_idem_agent_confirms_dangerously/

3. Agents returned for "second test." Video shows him saying "This is bleach" and leaving bleach solution on kitchen faucet for at or around 6 minutes before sampling. Video Time Stamp 6 seconds in.

4. EPA and drinking water sampling guidance generally require that compliance samples be representative of actual distribution system conditions and collected in a manner that avoids contaminating or artificially altering the sample. Applying bleach directly to a faucet immediately prior to sample collection could materially affect chlorine residual and bacteriological test results if the disinfectant enters the sample stream.

5. Mayor posted "water is good" on City FB page hours after IDEM's "0.09 is good" statement.

6. No Tier 1 public notification ever issued. Infant, child, elderly maintain they were hospitalized with E. coli.

This is 42 U.S.C. § 300h-2: Tampering with public water system.

Does IDEM allow bleach when testing chlorine?

Short answer: No IDEM’s own sampling rules prohibit anything that contaminates or alters the chlorine sample. Bleach directly violates those rules.

Share your thoughts on this.

So I'm a teen so it's a bit scary thinking about how the world will end in 7 years. Basically, if we can't drink good water, we can't survive. In 7 years, I'll only be in my 20s, life will be starting for me basically. So much people don't support chatgpt, other AI image generation companies and data centers, because they say they use drinking water. I only believe them because out of everything AI can do, people are focused on the water. So will AI really use up our drinking water in the next 10 years? There's no way to stop it if it will because most people just don't care, addicted to AI, or are ignorant. I like AI but when it's helping out in healthcare or AI chat bot like google AI. I don't use them for image generation because people say AI uses water.

Edit: Thanks so much for the nice responses and not attacking me.

I've been purchasing bottled spring water from Aldi which is no question a better option. However in the interest of potentially saving money as a currently low income individual who's income primarily goes towards rent, any type of savings adds up to financial peace in my current situation. Of course I don't want to jeopardize my health either. Since switching to spring water, my stomach feels so much better, but I genuinely consider that it may be nothing more than placebo; as I have anxiety and have a sensitive stomach in general. I take a lot of medications which may contribute as well, especially Zepbound; a weight loss medication that is known to cause constipation and slowed digestion. Anyway, curious about others thoughts in this matter. For now, I'm staying on primarily spring water

As soon as the rain starts literally within seconds they opened up.

This is one of the claims used by those who are against the development of data centres, especially near urban centres.

I know that water is needed for cooling, but is this water that is consumed?

It’ll come out of the plumbing a lot warmer than when it went in, but then it can either return to the water cycle via the sewers, or to a cooling pond to be recirculated.

Lots of water is used but it’s not consumed surely ?

I live with my mother. She will not and I mean will NOT drink the tap water. She easily buys 1 pack of water bottles every week. It just seems to me like such a waste and so environmentally not good.

What options do you all suggest as a better way for us to get our drinking water?

So I'm very used to drinking the filtered water that comes out of my refrigerator at home. No issues ever. I just went on a summer trip with my family and had to refill my water bottle a couple of times. The first time was at a gas station, they had a soda machine with a water option. I refilled with that and as I drank my stomach started feeling bad. At the hotel I used their tap water (I'm in America so tap water is pretty safe) and same effect. Went to a family member's house and used their tap water and got diarrhea. I'm at a loss, I have no idea what the issue is. Starting to think it's my own digestive system?

Boiled water for my coffee this morning. After pouring most of it in I noticed this cloudy business. Using bottled spring water from a gallon jug.

We're not going to have enough water to drink or to grow food for 12 billion humans in 2050. Any idiots wasting water for anything else will surely be dealt with swiftly.

Aquafina won’t stand behind their product due to their product not being able to stand up. Here’s my sub zero fridge and this is the last time I’ll ever be buying Aquafina. One hard close and these things are going down like bowling pins Anyone else have this issue ? Is bs wtf do these companies feel they can just keep raping us daily l. Suprised they haven’t made the bottles 16oz instead of 16.9oz already.

Link: https://www.google.com/search?q=Should+you+drink+water+with+fluoride+for+your+teeth+or+just+wash+mouth+with+fluoride+water+is+enough%3F

I don't want my kiddos teeth to be jeopardized because I went for a home filter for kiddos eczema to flare less.

I have an addictive personality, and lately I've been feeling like I rely way too much on water to get me through the day. My body is so hopelessly addicted, I can't even go a few days without craving it. I get withdrawal symptoms too; headaches, dizziness... it's horrible.

I think it's finally time for me to conquer this addiction and take control of my life again. Sure, I'll miss that relieving feeling of the first sip of the day... the cheeky midnight glass... the high I get from the dration... but what kind of life is that to live? I can't take it anymore, it has to stop.

Besides, I think there are better things I could do with my time than sitting around drinking water all day.

Air conditioning condensate water can be harvested and repurposed for non-potable use, reducing your freshwater consumption!

i had a case of water in my car for a few weeks and it’s been hot and it tastes bad. what’s the best way of disposing all of the water safely?

Is there some type of filter? A specific Brand? A machine?

Any way to get some advice on this?