Riverkeeper questions potential water usage for data center

Effingham County's proposed OpenAI data center is facing scrutiny over its potential impact on the Savannah River. County officials describe the project, referred to as "water done right," as utilizing significantly less water than other data centers across the country and a closed-loop system, similar to a car radiator, for water recirculation. This system is intended to continuously reuse the same water.

However, Steve Ewells of the Savannah Riverkeeper organization expresses ongoing concerns, questioning the fate of the water when it eventually needs to be flushed from the system. He seeks clarity on where the water will be discharged, what chemicals it might contain, and at what temperature it could re-enter the watershed. Ewells asserts that despite safeguards, a facility of this size, situated within the watershed, will inevitably affect the river. He and his team have a list of unanswered questions for the developers, including details on storm water plans and the relationship between water usage and power generation.