Elon Musk gives timeline on water recycling plant
News ClipDaily Memphian·Memphis, Shelby County, TN·4/9/2026
Elon Musk announced that xAI's water recycling plant in Memphis is on hold until its second data center, Colossus 2, is completed and stable. This plant was a key promise to local leaders and residents, and its delay means xAI continues to use fresh drinking water for its data center cooling.
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Billionaire Elon Musk has provided an updated timeline for xAI's promised water recycling plant in Memphis, Tennessee, stating the company must first complete and stabilize its second data center, "Colossus 2," before construction on the plant can begin.
The Daily Memphian previously reported the water recycling facility, a crucial commitment made by xAI to local officials and residents, was on an "indefinite pause." Without the recycling plant, xAI relies on fresh drinking water for the cooling operations of its Colossus data center, raising concerns about the fulfillment of environmental pledges.