Quality Technology Services operated a data center in Fayette County, Georgia, that consumed approximately 30 million gallons of water over several months without being billed or monitored. The facility installed two industrial water connections during this period. One connection was made without public knowledge, and the other was not linked to a company account.
Industrial water connections used without public knowledge while residents faced drought restrictions
County officials cited outdated metering systems and staffing shortages as the primary reasons for the oversight. QTS eventually paid approximately $150,000 for the water usage but faced no fines or penalties. The company claimed that all water usage followed applicable regulations and was appropriate. Residents and local officials expressed skepticism regarding these claims due to the lack of monitoring.
The incident occurred while local residents were under drought restrictions and experiencing reduced water pressure. Vanessa Tigert from Fayette County Water Systems stated that QTS is their largest customer and that they need to be partners. QTS responded to criticism by calling suggestions of inappropriate use false and inaccurate. The company also claimed that future water demand would drop significantly after construction.
Reports indicate that AI water consumption is much larger at semiconductor fabs and power plants supplying chips than at data centers themselves. Over 120 organizations have urged Congress to mandate comprehensive environmental reviews for data center construction. The Information cited Xylem regarding the disparity in water usage between computing facilities and their upstream suppliers.
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