Ohio EPA scraps rule to permit data center discharge into waterways

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency announced on July 21 the dismissal of a proposed statewide general permit that would have allowed data centers to discharge wastewater into local waterways. The agency's decision came after reviewing over 7,000 public comments expressing concern over the permit.

The general permit would have permitted all data centers with similar operations and discharge types without requiring prior chemical measurements and with limited public participation, unlike the current individual permit process which includes public participation for each application. Data centers in Ohio currently discharge to wastewater treatment plants, with roughly 80% of cooling water evaporating and the remainder discharged.

Environmental groups, including the Alliance for the Great Lakes, warned that such a permit could lead to pollution from hazardous chemicals like PFAS, as well as thermal pollution, which could increase harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie and the Ohio River. Helena Volzer, senior source water policy manager at the Alliance for the Great Lakes, emphasized the risk of increasing thermal pollution, especially given Ohio's investment in the H2Ohio program to improve water quality.

The Ohio Farm Bureau and several lawmakers, including Ohio Sen. Kent Smith (D-Euclid), applauded the EPA's decision. They argued that the general permit would undermine water quality efforts and that data centers should not be allowed to pollute local water resources while also straining the electric grid. While satisfied with the outcome, Volzer stressed the need for more transparency regarding data centers' water and electricity usage, noting that individual permits still allow for direct discharge into waterways.