Suggestion for hyperscalers feeling pressure over data center water use: Buy up a few exclusive country clubs, convert the golf courses into public parks, pay for guides and binoculars to get the previous members into birdwatching - help them embrace a more sustainable hobby! Google used 10.9 billion gallons in 2025, so about 30 million gallons per day. The Coachella Valley has 120 golf courses each using ~800 acre-feet per year, which is ~750,000 gallons per day. So Google buying up 40 of ✦ AI generated
The author concludes their back-of-envelope calculation by suggesting Google could offset its water footprint by buying about a third of Coachella Valley's golf courses.
Author: So Google buying up 40 of those courses (1/3) should do the trick.
supports · 2
The piece cites Google's total 2025 water consumption figure as context for the water-use debate.
Author: Google used 10.9 billion gallons in 2025, so about 30 million gallons per day.
The author proposes that tech companies facing backlash over data center water consumption buy exclusive golf courses, turn them into public parks, and help former members take up birdwatching instead.
Author: Buy up a few exclusive country clubs, convert the golf courses into public parks, pay for guides and binoculars to get the previous members into birdwatching - help them embrace a more sustainable hobby!
provides context · 1supports · 1
The author provides a comparison data point on golf course water consumption in the Coachella Valley.
Author: The Coachella Valley has 120 golf courses each using ~800 acre-feet per year, which is ~750,000 gallons per day.