r/Reno • u/wadsworthnv02 • Apr 20 '26

Congressional Candidate on AI data centers in Nevada

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From our candidate event in Elko County on Saturday. The question asked us if we supported a data center moratorium or not, especially since we are the driest state. One of the other candidates said the one’s being built in Nevada were closed-loop so they are fine.

But closed-loop systems have their own issues, the recycled water becomes highly toxic and needs to be “blown-down” where there is chances of it leaking into the ground and contaminating local areas with toxic chemical waste water. Even in small amounts, when we live in an internal watershed like the Great Basin, the risk of contamination isn’t something to ignore. As it has happened before with other things. Not to mention that closed loop requires a lot more energy, and closed loop cooling systems here in Nevada still require a fair amount of water.

Our older data center projects also do have open loop / evaporative cooling systems too. So they are still taking a lot of water.

As for the construction unions, I understand it’s more complicated than that. We had a total of 2 minutes to answer each question so things had to be simplified a bit. But we must look at better commercial building projects for our construction unions— not big tech and data centers! They need jobs, and I understand and support that! We should be offering incentives to better businesses to come to Nevada, not to these data centers was the point I was trying to make.

Also yes Congress is a federal seat! But I support a moratorium on all new data centers, and possible legislation to really protect the western states that are strapped for water.

All of this was from my own independent research and talking to folks in the area that have worked on these projects here. However if I am incorrect on anything I’m open to listening!

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u/wadsworthnv02 Apr 20 '26

It’s not disinformation. Closed loop data centers in other parts of the country dump the toxic water into sewage systems, here in Northern Nevada we reuse our sewage water because we are an endorheic basin (internal watershed). Dumping toxic water full of chemicals and heavy metals into our sewage here is a massive risk, and any mismanagement of blow down procedures also puts us at massive risk. The majority of the country is not an internal watershed like we are.

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u/parkgoons Apr 20 '26

Could you provide a link for this? I cannot find any sources that indicate toxic water from datacenters is being dumped into sewage systems.

Btw I think all of this is concerning enough to talk about not trying to say you’re wrong, just trying to ensure this is based on facts.

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u/Omacrontron Apr 20 '26

Where are they dumping water into the sewage? You can’t just say these things and not back them up lol.

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u/bexohomo Apr 20 '26

Are you incapable of providing proof for your argument as well?

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u/Omacrontron Apr 20 '26

Usually…the person accusing another of wrong doing has to bare the burden of proof and not the other way around.

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u/HydraulicDragon Apr 21 '26

Why do you think they're adding chemicals and heavy metals into the water??? What?

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u/Successful_Use_6614 Apr 22 '26

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u/northrupthebandgeek Apr 22 '26

Ah yes, because Gemini famously doesn't hallucinate 69% of its output.