$63M in water, sewer upgrades on tap for Ridgeland, thanks to AWS investment

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is proceeding with a $10.5 billion data center construction along West County Line Road in Ridgeland, Mississippi, which is part of a larger $21 billion investment across Ridgeland and the Madison County Mega Site. As part of its agreement with the City of Ridgeland, AWS is directly funding $37 million in water and sewer system improvements, including $30 million for water upgrades and $7 million for sewer infrastructure. These investments are complemented by $26.4 million in public projects, such as an $8 million fire station and training center and $9.4 million for road work, which are funded through a state loan to be repaid by AWS's property taxes. Public Works Director Alan Hart and Mayor Gene McGee highlighted that these privately funded improvements will provide essential infrastructure redundancies, improve water delivery, and are expected to lower fire insurance rates for city residents and businesses. While the Ridgeland project moves forward, with the first five data center buildings at the West County Line site slated for 2028, some residents have raised concerns about the impact on local infrastructure. AWS Director of Economic Development Roger Wehner addressed water usage fears, stating the Ridgeland facility will use approximately 91 million gallons annually, accounting for only 4% of the city's production capacity. Separately, the City of Jackson is considering a moratorium on data center construction due to similar potential impacts.