Spartanburg data center more than doubles projected water use after getting gas turbine permit
A data center project by NorthMark Cloud and Compute in Spartanburg, SC, has more than doubled its projected water usage, from 459,000 to 1.2 million gallons per day, after receiving a permit for gas turbines. The company admitted to providing "dated" information, raising concerns about transparency, though Spartanburg Water reaffirmed its capacity to handle the increased demand.
NorthMark Cloud and Compute's data center project on Pine Street in Spartanburg, South Carolina, has significantly increased its projected water consumption, now anticipating an average use of 1.2 million gallons per day, with peaks up to 1.6 million gallons. This revised estimate more than doubles the previously reported figure of 459,000 gallons per day, which had been cited by Spartanburg Water and The Post and Courier.
The company announced the updated figures in a Facebook post, attributing the earlier lower projection to a "Phase I buildout" that did not reflect the facility's full operational capacity. This disclosure comes shortly after NorthMark received a permit from the S.C. Department of Environmental Services to install gas turbines capable of generating 457 megawatts of power and emitting hundreds of tons of pollutants. Residents and local media had previously criticized the company for a lack of transparency regarding its plans.
NorthMark stated that it informed Spartanburg Water of the higher usage in February, and Spartanburg Water has since reaffirmed its ability to accommodate the increased demand without negatively impacting customers. Despite a commitment to transparency in its social media post, neither NorthMark nor Spartanburg Water immediately responded to requests for further comment from The Post and Courier.