Festus data center water use raises contamination concerns

A KSDK News report highlighted concerns surrounding a data center being developed by CRG in Festus, Missouri, specifically regarding its significant water usage and potential for aquifer contamination. The development agreement permits CRG to drill its own wells if the city's water supply becomes inadequate for the facility's demands. This has sparked worries among residents, particularly in light of an Oregon case study where a data center's water discharge showed nitrite levels eight times higher than state safety standards, raising questions about the impact on the Festus aquifer and neighboring wells. An interviewer pressed the CRG CEO on how they would persuade skeptics about water safety. The CEO stated that CRG is committed to holding itself to previous, higher environmental standards, rejecting any leniency offered by recent Trump administration regulations. Despite this assurance, the interviewer questioned CRG's accountability mechanisms and how they would tangibly demonstrate water safety to the community. The CRG representative reiterated the company's commitment not to return wastewater that is more polluted than the water initially drawn from city sources. They also noted that cities and counties nationwide have established methodologies for testing water and wastewater. When asked if a demonstration, such as drinking the treated wastewater, would be possible, the representative acknowledged it as a possibility.