Current state of water supply
How much of the world’s surface is covered in water?
75% (l. 7)
Which historic event sparked a rise in the construction of data centers worldwide?
the pandemic (l. 18)
Who will compete with tech giants over the access to water?
local communities (ll. 35–36)
What is the benefit of erecting data centers in colder areas?
the colder temperatures cool the centres (l. 48)
Why has the supply of fresh water decreased considerably over the last sixty years?
the world’s population has been rising (l. 13)
Which two industries consume the most water?
agriculture and energy (l. 21)
According to BofA’s prediction, when could the world run out of fresh water?
by 2040 (ll. 30–31)
According to Haim Israel, what action is needed to tackle the impending water crisis?
investment (l. 63)
Where is most of our fresh water locked up?
in glaciers (ll. 8–9)
What is the tenth largest consumer of water in the US?
data centers (l. 22)
How many American homes could be supplied with water which one data centre uses per day?
100,000 (l. 41)
Which approach does Google pursue to improve their water management?
run centres with the same equipment at higher temperatures (ll. 51–54)
How much water is currently lost as a result of broken and old water systems?
1/3 of global water (ll. 71–72)
How much water is needed to produce one cotton T-shirt?
more than 2,500 litres (l. 15)
Which idiom expresses that something is a good idea but difficult to implement?
easier said than done (ll. 27–28)
Which promise have Google and Microsoft made regarding their water consumption?
they are dedicated to replenish more water than they consume by 2030 (ll. 59–60)
Which word is used to refer to the world’s current state of being dried out?
parched (l. 17)
Why does technology have an ambivalent role when it comes to water scarcity?
on the one hand, it requires a lot of water to cool its data centers, putting even more pressure on water supply; on the other hand, it could eventually be the key, offering innovative solutions to managing water (ll. 23–25; 34)
Why is seawater not an option for cooling data centres?
it is not clean and contains bacteria which is harmful for the environment; saltwater also corrodes cooling pipes (ll. 28–30)
What is another word for ‘to demand forcefully despite opposition’ used in the text?
insist (l. 46)