# ThirstyFLOPS: Water Footprint Modeling and Analysis Toward Sustainable HPC Systems

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.00471 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.00471/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 1 Oct 2025.

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Artificial Intelligence for Energy Optimization in Data Centers](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.03716/) (2026)
- [Beyond Energy: When Sustainability Dimensions Reshape LLM Serving Decisions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.35569/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

High-performance computing (HPC) systems are becoming increasingly water-intensive due to their reliance on water-based cooling and the energy used in power generation. However, the water footprint of HPC remains relatively underexplored-especially in contrast to the growing focus on carbon emissions. In this paper, we present ThirstyFLOPS - a comprehensive water footprint analysis framework for HPC systems. Our approach incorporates region-specific metrics, including Water Usage Effectiveness, Power Usage Effectiveness, and Energy Water Factor, to quantify water consumption using real-world data. Using four representative HPC systems - Marconi, Fugaku, Polaris, and Frontier - as examples, we provide implications for HPC system planning and management. We explore the impact of regional water scarcity and nuclear-based energy strategies on HPC sustainability. Our findings aim to advance the development of water-aware, environmentally responsible computing infrastructures.