Report: New Missouri Data Center Will Use Wells 1,500 Feet Down
An Amazon data center in New Florence, Missouri, plans to draw an estimated 50 million gallons of water annually from deep underground wells to cool its servers. This plan targets the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer, with an engineering firm's report suggesting minimal impact. However, concerns are being raised about the thoroughness of the aquifer assessment.
An upcoming Amazon Web Services data center in New Florence, Missouri, is reportedly planning to extract approximately 50 million gallons of water annually from deep underground wells for its cooling systems. According to a report shared by Jennifer Green of TCD via Yahoo News, the facility will tap into the deep Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer, drilling wells 1,500 feet down. An engineering firm's assessment suggests this usage would constitute only 0.03% of the aquifer's total 8% current usage, supposedly not interfering with shallower private wells.
However, the article also notes unconfirmed concerns regarding the adequacy of the aquifer assessment, suggesting it might not have been extensive enough, as it was reportedly tested in only one area. The author expresses growing alarm over the water demands of data centers in Missouri, despite acknowledging the benefits of technology, emphasizing the critical need for water in cooling servers and controlling humidity.