Supercomputers need massive amounts of water and electricity to operate.
Environmental groups expressed concern about the impact Elon Musk’s facility could have on Memphis’ drinking water and the MLGW power grid.
A family of four uses about 400 gallons of water a day. The supercomputer facility will require one million gallons a day. The electricity needed to run the supercomputer could power 100,000 homes. Environmentalists want to ensure the xAI facility doesn’t hurt a community already burdened by power outages and industrial pollution.
The world’s largest supercomputer needs super amounts of water to keep the equipment cool, and that worries Sarah Houston, Executive Director of Protect Our Aquifer.”This isn’t for drinking water,” she said, “This isn’t for public health.
This is just to cool some computers and our pure, 2000-year-old water—that’s not really the best use of this amazing drinking water source.”
On Action News 5 at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Memphis Business Journal reporter Stephen Macleod confirmed the Elon Musk project will likely help fast-track the building of Memphis’ first wastewater recycling plant, an environmentally friendly alternative to using fresh water.”MLGW is really working quickly to make sure we have a greywater facility,” said MacLeod, “the first in our city, which is when we take wastewater and purify for industrial reasons.”MCAP, Memphis Community Against Pollution, is concerned the MLGW power grid won’t be able to handle the increased demand for electricity.
