Key facts
- A Meta datacenter in Wyoming discharged wastewater containing the bacterium Cupriavidus gilardii.
- Cheyenne officials stopped accepting wastewater from Meta's contractor due to contamination concerns.
- Environmental groups are campaigning against datacenter wastewater pollution, citing concerns over PFAS, heavy metals, and bacteria.
- Datacenters consume significant amounts of water for cooling and cleaning, and their wastewater can contain harmful pollutants.
- Heated water discharge from a New York datacenter into Lake Seneca has alarmed environmentalists.
- Some politicians are reconsidering support for datacenters due to environmental concerns, while President Trump remains supportive.
Datacenters across the United States are facing increasing scrutiny and backlash over their environmental impact, particularly concerning wastewater pollution and water consumption. In Wyoming, officials discovered a rare and potentially hazardous bacterium, Cupriavidus gilardii, in 801,000 gallons of wastewater discharged by a contractor for Meta's under-construction datacenter. This led Cheyenne officials to halt wastewater collection, a decision Meta is appealing, with the company questioning the city's test results.
The incident in Wyoming is part of a broader pattern of alarms raised about datacenters and water resources nationwide. Authorities in Virginia have taken enforcement actions against datacenters for wastewater and wetland permit violations, while in West Virginia, stormwater runoff from a datacenter flooded nearby homes. In New York, locals are campaigning against the discharge of heated water from an upcoming datacenter into Lake Seneca.
The Waterkeeper Alliance, a network of environmental organizations, reported that 55 of its affiliated groups are actively working on datacenter-related issues, with 80% of these campaigns focused on concerns about pollutants leaching into the environment via discharged water. These pollutants can include PFAS, heavy metals, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Flint Riverkeeper in Georgia plans to sue QTS datacenter for allegedly discharging dirt and metals into the Flint River.
Datacenters require substantial amounts of water for construction and cooling. While the industry argues its water use is a fraction of sectors like agriculture, a mid-sized datacenter can consume around 300,000 gallons daily. Wastewater, used for cooling or cleaning operations, can contain heavy metals and PFAS. Furthermore, heated water discharged back into natural bodies, such as Lake Seneca, can stress aquatic life and contribute to harmful algal blooms.
Some political figures are beginning to re-evaluate their support for datacenters. In Wyoming, Republican Congresswoman Harriet Hageman expressed concern over the bacterial contamination. However, President Trump remains a strong proponent, viewing datacenters as economic drivers that create jobs and wealth.