Augusta data center could use wastewater for cooling

A proposed $2 billion data center campus by QTS, located near Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia, is generating public discussion regarding its potential water usage. The project, designed to include six buildings, is situated between two residential subdivisions, Hayne Station and Captain's Corner, along the Savannah River in Richmond County. Local residents and communities downstream, totaling 1.4 million people from Augusta to Savannah, rely on the Savannah River for their drinking water. Augusta Utilities, which pulls 60 million gallons of water from the river daily, is a key participant in ongoing discussions with QTS. Senior Investigative Reporter Liz Owens interviewed the Director of Augusta's Utilities to address these concerns. QTS states its data centers utilize a closed-loop cooling system that does not consume water for cooling once operational. However, the company acknowledges that the project is still in its early planning stages, making it difficult to predict the exact water requirements. The utility director noted that the anticipated 18,000 gallons per day usage is a "drop in the bucket" compared to other water losses like evaporation from nearby lakes. Governor Brian Kemp's stance on a related suspension, set to end on May 19th, was also mentioned, though its direct relevance to the data center's water use was not explicitly detailed.