Wyoming Datacenter Wastewater Sparks Health Alarms

Officials in Cheyenne, Wyoming, discovered a rare bacterium, Cupriavidus gilardii, in 801,000 gallons of water discharged from a Meta datacenter construction site. The city's board of public utilities expressed caution, halting water intake from the contractor due to potential exposure risks from evaporating droplets used for irrigation. Meta has contested the city's test results, stating their own independent tests found no evidence of the bacteria.

This event in Wyoming is part of a larger trend of concerns regarding datacenters and water resources nationwide. Various US states have seen enforcement actions and local campaigns focused on wastewater discharge and wetland permit violations. Environmental organizations like the Waterkeeper Alliance report that a significant majority of their datacenter-related campaigns center on pollutant leaching into the environment via discharged water. These pollutants can include heavy metals, Pfas, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The operational water needs of datacenters, particularly for cooling power-hungry AI infrastructure, are substantial. After use, this water can be discharged back into local water systems. Critics worry about increased water temperatures and the presence of contaminants like Pfas, often referred to as 'forever chemicals,' which are linked to various health issues. This has led to calls for pauses in datacenter development and increased scrutiny of their environmental impact, though some view them as essential for economic growth.