A data center drained 30M gallons of water unnoticed - until residents complained about low water pressure

Key Points:

• A data center in Fayetteville, Georgia, owned by Quality Technology Services (QTS), used nearly 30 million gallons of water without initially paying, leading to a retroactive charge of about $147,474 for unbilled water consumption over 9-15 months during the county's transition to smart meters.
• The water usage exceeded the agreed limits during planning, sparking outrage among local residents who experienced low water pressure and were asked to conserve water amid a drought and wildfire emergency in the state.
• Fayetteville officials revealed a procedural mix-up caused the unmetered water use, and although the data center has paid the charges, the utility did not impose fines, citing the importance of maintaining a partnership with its largest customer.
• The data center campus is one of the largest in the U.S., still under construction with plans for expansion, and its significant water and electricity demands have fueled local opposition, resulting in a recent city council ban on new data centers in all zoning districts.
• QTS claims the high water use was related to temporary construction activities and asserts its cooling system is closed-loop, with future water use expected to be minimal and comparable to that of four households per month once fully operational.