AOC brought a jar of drinking water from Georgia after Meta began building their data center there

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) presented two jars of discolored drinking water, claiming they were samples from Morgan County, Georgia, collected after the construction of a Meta data center. She stated that the only difference between the previously clean water and the current state was the data center, noting that families in the area now rely on shipped-in water for basic needs.

AOC questioned an EPA official regarding potential investigations into data centers' impact on water quality and availability, despite existing regulations. The EPA official assured AOC they would look into the specific situation upon returning to the office, emphasizing the priority of meeting water quality standards. AOC also raised concerns about the administration's policy of fast-tracking data center construction, asking if there are mandates for pre-construction water quality testing for these facilities.

She concluded by highlighting the importance of both EPA and congressional investigations to ensure safe and accessible drinking water nationwide, noting that such issues are "happening across the country."