Data center in El Reno cited for safety violations after massive water leak
A data center operated by Athlon BT in El Reno, Oklahoma, was cited for multiple safety violations including fire hazards and expired permits, following a massive water leak that affected local schools and residents. The City of El Reno has issued notices to the company to address the public nuisance conditions, with an administrative hearing scheduled for next month. Local residents have also expressed concerns about the broader environmental impact of such facilities.
A data center facility in El Reno, Oklahoma, operated by Athlon BT, has been identified as the source of a massive water leak that led to the shutdown of local schools and left residents without water earlier this week.
Following the incident, the City of El Reno issued multiple safety and code violation notices to Athlon BT. These citations detailed several issues including fire hazards, dangerous structures, drainage problems, expired building permits, and the absence of a final certificate of occupancy. The water line failure at the site resulted in the leakage of three million gallons of water.
Athlon BT, which operates mobile data centers in shipping containers for AI storage and Bitcoin mining, has been given a 10-day period by the city to rectify the identified public nuisance conditions. Failure to comply may lead to further action by the city.
Local resident Shellie Seale expressed broader concerns, stating, "I don't think people understand the impact these data centers are gonna have on where you get your food, the farms, the ranches; they're going to be gone." An administrative hearing regarding the property is scheduled for next month, signaling ongoing scrutiny from city officials.