Microsoft Granger Data Center Groundwater Plan Approved
Microsoft received approval from the St. Joseph County Drainage Board to temporarily pump up to 200,000 gallons of groundwater per hour from its Granger data center construction site into Willow Creek and Juday Creek. Nearby residents remain concerned about impacts to private wells, water quality, erosion and wildlife, while the project also undergoes air-permit review and infrastructure work.
The St. Joseph County Drainage Board approved Microsoft’s temporary dewatering plan for its 929-acre data center campus in Granger. Three wells will operate at different times during construction, potentially discharging up to 200,000 gallons of groundwater per hour into Willow Creek and Juday Creek. Officials said they do not expect flooding, and monitoring will be installed around nearby wells, but details about monitoring frequency and responses to potential problems have not been finalized.
Residents have raised concerns about private wells, water quality, creek erosion, pollution and wildlife impacts. The campus, planned for six data center buildings, is also advancing through utility and road improvements, an Indiana Department of Environmental Management air-permit review, and previously approved industrial rezoning. Microsoft plans to use Mishawaka municipal water for domestic needs and closed-loop cooling to reduce ongoing water consumption, while electricity requirements and some environmental safeguards remain unresolved.