Approximately 300 individuals recently participated in the first organized open-water swim in the Chicago River in nearly a century. Spectators gathered along the bridges and the Riverwalk to watch the event, which included one and two-mile courses.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson commented that reclaiming the river for recreational use puts the city alongside other global destinations where open-water swims are a part of the local culture. The founder of the organizing group, A Long Swim, called the event a "celebration," acknowledging the city's efforts over generations to make the river clean enough for swimming. Swimming in the river had ceased around 1926 due to pollution from sewage and industrial runoff.
California Legislators Pass Bill to Track Data Center Water Use
The increasing demand for artificial intelligence is driving a rapid expansion of data centers, which is raising concerns about water consumption in dry regions like California and the Southwest. These large facilities typically require significant amounts of water to cool the servers and interiors of their buildings.
To address this issue, California legislators have passed a new bill that would require data center operators to report their water usage. The proposed law mandates that both new and existing facilities must submit their projected water consumption figures before operating and then certify their actual use annually.
Xylem and Amazon Partner on Smart Water Upgrades in Mexico
Residents in Mexico City and Monterrey will soon enjoy more reliable water supply as the two cities launch groundbreaking infrastructure upgrades to save over 1.3 billion liters of water a year, easing pressure from the rapid urbanization and persistent drought conditions that have strained local water systems.
The two cities are working in partnership with global water technology company Xylem and Amazon to deploy Xylem Vue, an advanced software platform that applies data and analytics to detect leaks, cut water losses and improve residents’ water supply. The projects are estimated to save upwards of 800 million liters of water a year in Mexico City and 560 million liters a year in Monterrey.
