In this episode of Tap’d In, hosts Jordan and Lana explore the hidden water cost of artificial intelligence. Inspired by a recent New York Times report, they spotlight Newton County, Georgia, where Meta’s data center construction has led to depleted residential wells, rising municipal rates, and looming water shortages. As AI advances, so does its thirst for cooling—and communities are paying the price. Jordan and Lana unpack the tension between tech-driven economic growth and environmental sustainability, asking: How do we balance innovation with basic water rights?

Article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/technology/meta-data-center-water.html

Links:

Tap: https://findtap.com/

PodSnacks (Podcast Summaries): https://www.podsnacks.org/