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AIBU to question hosepipe bans while AI water use gets little scrutiny

113 replies

MariaMagdalenaa · 25/06/2026 17:18

AIBU to think it’s ridiculous that there is a hosepipe ban and I cannot water my plants in this heat whilst I see hardly any discussions or questions raised about the massive drain on our water resources by AI?

OP posts:
StarlightLady · 26/06/2026 06:16

Add to this the number of reservoirs that water companies have mothballed to save money. Yes, it has been hot and we need to wake up and smell the coffee, but it was a wet winter.

SquirrelGG · 26/06/2026 05:30

Yetone · 25/06/2026 17:49

Can’t you just use a watering can or jug?

This. Honestly, yet another fuss about nothing. We have water restrictions most summers where I live, the plants survive without the use of hoses.

It doesn't matter what is using water, you've been told not to, stop whining.

KateSixer · 26/06/2026 04:50

MezeAndNibbles · 25/06/2026 20:24

And this, boys and girls, is why we should be worried about ai. What a load of tosh.

What on earth are you on about?

Telemicus · 25/06/2026 23:21

MariaMagdalenaa · 25/06/2026 23:03

This is true I posted on YABU. I think so many people misunderstood my post. It’s not really about the hose pipe ban, it’s about how we put controls in around people watering their garden, but no controls around the really big issues threatening our environment. I find it difficult to understand that people don’t care about our planet. I am so worried about what the world will look like for future generations.

Well in that case you are not being unreasonable! I completely agree with this sentiment, and I think that lots of people do care, but are unable to do anything about it!

MariaMagdalenaa · 25/06/2026 23:03

Telemicus · 25/06/2026 22:46

The name of the forum is AIBU. You asked if you were being unreasonable to be annoyed about the hosepipe bans when AI data centers exist. We have explained that the hosepipe bans have nothing to do with data centers because they actually use very little of the UK's water.

What did you want from this thread?

This is true I posted on YABU. I think so many people misunderstood my post. It’s not really about the hose pipe ban, it’s about how we put controls in around people watering their garden, but no controls around the really big issues threatening our environment. I find it difficult to understand that people don’t care about our planet. I am so worried about what the world will look like for future generations.

OP posts:
Telemicus · 25/06/2026 22:46

MariaMagdalenaa · 25/06/2026 22:20

Maybe Mumsnet just isn’t the forum to discuss these things. Strange as we should all be concern about the future of our children.

The name of the forum is AIBU. You asked if you were being unreasonable to be annoyed about the hosepipe bans when AI data centers exist. We have explained that the hosepipe bans have nothing to do with data centers because they actually use very little of the UK's water.

What did you want from this thread?

MariaMagdalenaa · 25/06/2026 22:20

Sometimesitsmyownfault · 25/06/2026 21:39

You should ask AI to compare the water footprint of a simple cup of coffee or tea 🤣
cotton T-shirts don’t come out great either. Truth is, everything we consume uses masses & masses of water.

Maybe Mumsnet just isn’t the forum to discuss these things. Strange as we should all be concern about the future of our children.

OP posts:
Sometimesitsmyownfault · 25/06/2026 21:39

You should ask AI to compare the water footprint of a simple cup of coffee or tea 🤣
cotton T-shirts don’t come out great either. Truth is, everything we consume uses masses & masses of water.

Karma2023 · 25/06/2026 21:36

In the grand scheme of things, we hardly have any data centers

Not so! Microsoft have data centres based the UK and I'm aware of 3 being built in and around my area, less than 25 mile radius. You might not be aware of them as typically never advertised due to security. The UK defence sector mandate UK only so all has to within the UK.

Telemicus · 25/06/2026 21:28

MariaMagdalenaa · 25/06/2026 21:05

It will have. Water is a scarce resource.

And in the UK, Ai or data centers consume only a negligible amount of it.

MariaMagdalenaa · 25/06/2026 21:11

impatientfury · 25/06/2026 21:09

Yawn.

Really? You don’t care about our planet and future generations?

OP posts:
impatientfury · 25/06/2026 21:09

Yawn.

MariaMagdalenaa · 25/06/2026 21:05

Telemicus · 25/06/2026 20:45

Op, what aspect of AI do you think should be on the agenda more than it is? Because AI data centers have nothing whatsoever to do with any current water shortages in the UK.

It will have. Water is a scarce resource.

OP posts:
Telemicus · 25/06/2026 20:45

MariaMagdalenaa · 25/06/2026 20:38

Is this to me? I am aware there is some discussion yes, but it’s not on the agenda like it should be. Just reading this thread confirms a lot of people are not aware. We are sleep walking into an AI nightmare because there is no controls around it.

Op, what aspect of AI do you think should be on the agenda more than it is? Because AI data centers have nothing whatsoever to do with any current water shortages in the UK.

MariaMagdalenaa · 25/06/2026 20:38

AuntieDen · 25/06/2026 20:25

Ok, so someone else said this to a WhatsApp group im on the other day, and I appreciate that many people, like the one who said it there, may not have seen discussions about data centre water use until it was on GB news a week or so ago but I can assure you it has been a regular discussion point not only of people concerned about the environment and in technical forums but also on mainstream media including the BBC for a good couple of years.

The thing is, if you read mostly sources which are unconcerned about climate change, resource usage etc, then you won't read about stories about them until they happen to upset the agenda of those sources in some way.

And if you never actually read msm because its so terrible, then thats fine but you can't claim that a subject is not being discussed just because you dont see it because you dont look.

Is this to me? I am aware there is some discussion yes, but it’s not on the agenda like it should be. Just reading this thread confirms a lot of people are not aware. We are sleep walking into an AI nightmare because there is no controls around it.

OP posts:
MariaMagdalenaa · 25/06/2026 20:36

wrinklycactus · 25/06/2026 20:21

OP, no, you cannot flout the hosepipe ban 'because AI data centres use water'.

There are currently no AI data centres in Kent.

There is a proposal for one, which is getting pushback from residents and is controversial. But currently, there are none.

Even if there WAS an AI data centre using lots of water, the correct way to go about this issue would be to write to your local MP, not to randomly decide that rules do not apply to you.

Maybe read the thread again.

OP posts:
AuntieDen · 25/06/2026 20:25

Ok, so someone else said this to a WhatsApp group im on the other day, and I appreciate that many people, like the one who said it there, may not have seen discussions about data centre water use until it was on GB news a week or so ago but I can assure you it has been a regular discussion point not only of people concerned about the environment and in technical forums but also on mainstream media including the BBC for a good couple of years.

The thing is, if you read mostly sources which are unconcerned about climate change, resource usage etc, then you won't read about stories about them until they happen to upset the agenda of those sources in some way.

And if you never actually read msm because its so terrible, then thats fine but you can't claim that a subject is not being discussed just because you dont see it because you dont look.

MezeAndNibbles · 25/06/2026 20:24

KateSixer · 25/06/2026 20:21

There is a lot of needless worrying here. And some worrying that should happen.

Both the planet generally and the UK specifically have plenty of water and could have plenty of power.

Water doesn't get "destroyed" it simply evaporates to later condense and fall as rain.

New technology (including AI) is making nuclear energy ever more safe.

The criticism that should be made is of our spineless politicians who have not allocated the resources they could have done to ensuring greater water and energy resilience in the UK.

Instead they have - you guessed it - borrowed heavily and spent it on benefits and similar short term (but popular) measures.

Their abject failure to invest shames them and leaves us and our kids to suffer the consequences.

Ed fucking Miliband as he is known in this house is just the latest in a long line of failures here.

And this, boys and girls, is why we should be worried about ai. What a load of tosh.

KateSixer · 25/06/2026 20:21

There is a lot of needless worrying here. And some worrying that should happen.

Both the planet generally and the UK specifically have plenty of water and could have plenty of power.

Water doesn't get "destroyed" it simply evaporates to later condense and fall as rain.

New technology (including AI) is making nuclear energy ever more safe.

The criticism that should be made is of our spineless politicians who have not allocated the resources they could have done to ensuring greater water and energy resilience in the UK.

Instead they have - you guessed it - borrowed heavily and spent it on benefits and similar short term (but popular) measures.

Their abject failure to invest shames them and leaves us and our kids to suffer the consequences.

Ed fucking Miliband as he is known in this house is just the latest in a long line of failures here.

wrinklycactus · 25/06/2026 20:21

OP, no, you cannot flout the hosepipe ban 'because AI data centres use water'.

There are currently no AI data centres in Kent.

There is a proposal for one, which is getting pushback from residents and is controversial. But currently, there are none.

Even if there WAS an AI data centre using lots of water, the correct way to go about this issue would be to write to your local MP, not to randomly decide that rules do not apply to you.

Cakeandcardio · 25/06/2026 20:19

Serenity75 · 25/06/2026 17:37

Surely all of the data centres are in the USA? They don’t have any impact on water in Kent. It’s not like water is a resource that can be moved around from the Us to Kent!

Nope! I live in a village in Scotland and we have one being built here.
Not what you would expect at all!
Although we also do not experience hose pipe bans.

Normallyinthepool · 25/06/2026 20:18

Serenity75 · 25/06/2026 17:37

Surely all of the data centres are in the USA? They don’t have any impact on water in Kent. It’s not like water is a resource that can be moved around from the Us to Kent!

Of course there are data centres in the UK
And a govt backed push for more

hahabahbag · 25/06/2026 20:15

Use a watering can and for the future buy a water butt. Failing that move to my area, we didn’t have a ban last year despite everyone else around having one, not quite sure why but hey ho

WearyAuldWumman · 25/06/2026 20:12

MariaMagdalenaa · 25/06/2026 17:27

I am in Kent and yes I won’t let my plants die. It my question was more about why we don’t care about AI water usage which is a lot more damaging for the environment as a whole.

I don't understand how it all works, but people in Fife are up in arms about planning for some kind of AI plant here - water use has been cited as a major issue.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/26167588.auchtertool-villagers-rally-600mw-fife-ai-data-centre-plan/

‘This is a national disgrace’: villagers pack village hall over AI data centre plan

HUNDREDS of people packed into a Fife village hall to show their concern over proposals for a massive AI data centre.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/26167588.auchtertool-villagers-rally-600mw-fife-ai-data-centre-plan/

Garamond55 · 25/06/2026 20:11

Never2many · 25/06/2026 20:07

Bringing in a hosepipe ban after two days is a ridiculous overreaction. We had loads of rain over the past few weeks and on Monday night in fact and there is more forecast for next week.

Rather than just AI we need to be questioning why it is that the water companies are losing billions of gallons due to substandard infrastructure while charging the earth for their supply and their executives receiving fat bonuses.

It’s time people stuck two fingers up at these hosepipe bans which aren’t enforceable anyway. But it’s far easier for individuals to turn on each other rather than to question what’s really going on.

As for AI, I hope in five years time the majority of it has imploded. People seem to have no idea the damage which is being done by AI.

It’s estimated that a 3rd of jobs will be taken by AI. We’re raising a generation who will soon be illiterate non communicators because they just get AI to write their emails, their texts, they won’t need CV’s or cover letters because they won’t have jobs to go to.

The music industry will have died because currently the top artists on Spotify are AI generated from Suno and its ilk.

Great if you want to use it as a search engine, but a therapist? Something to write your emails? An imaginary friend? The sooner it dies the better.

The mythical Ned Ludd has been transported to the 21st century