On Page 1 of the Mercury News was an article about La Nina, stating that we do not know if it will have very little effect on our water supply or if it will cause a drought. On Page 6 was an opinion column about the number of data centers in the area and the water that they use (AI data centers must disclose how much water they require).
Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup, xAI, has officially broken ground on its $80 million wastewater treatment facility in Memphis, Tennessee. The project aims to reduce strain on the Memphis aquifer by 9% and repurpose 20% of wastewater from the nearby Memphis T.E. Maxson wastewater facility that would otherwise flow back into the Mississippi River. A major step towards sustainability City officials, including Councilman J. Ford Canale and Memphis Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Ted Townsend, joined xAI staff at the October 10 ceremony.
A water line was damaged Wednesday in Benicia, leading the city to call for an immediate reduction in water use. The city issued a stage 4 critical water shortage alert, which requires a 40% cutback in water use citywide. It applies to all residents, schools, businesses, community organizations and other facilities. Residents can conserve water by running dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads, limiting showers to no more than five minutes, and stopping all non-essential water use.
On paper, it doesn't sound too dramatic; 1999 remains the record holder, clocking in at a parched 3.9 inches, but compared to the usual 14 inches that Gotham expects, this summer was bone-dry. If you were convinced otherwise by September's freak flash floods, you're not alone. Those torrents actually gave us the second-wettest in city history, but when you zoom out, short, intense storms don't add up to a replenished summer.
This "sustainable and simple yet powerful practice not only conserves water and reduces one's footprint, but also helps protect nature and secure the future," says Chandrima Debi.
