Piedmont residents voice water concerns as City Council discusses data center

Piedmont residents expressed strong opposition to a proposed data center during a City Council meeting, primarily citing grave concerns about the city's water supply. Many residents, including local farmers, fear that tapping into the aquifer and the data center's significant water demands – estimated between 7,500 and 10,000 gallons per day for cooling, landscaping, plumbing, and fire protection – would further exacerbate the area's already poor water pressure. Citizens highlighted the current high demand for water and the ongoing residential construction projects, arguing that the additional burden from a data center would severely impact existing resources. They pointed out that Piedmont High School, for comparison, uses only 2,000-3,000 gallons daily during the school year. During public comment, residents requested the removal of Beltline's PUD application for rezoning, which seeks to allow a data center in Piedmont, and the city's amendment to the future land use map. These changes would shift the city’s industrial corridor to a location impacting approximately 2,400 acres near farms and homes. The application is set for consideration at the May 4th Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, with no official decision made yet.