Lawmaker presses EPA on Georgia data center water issues
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pressed the EPA regarding severe water issues in Morgan County, Georgia, attributing them to a massive Meta data center. She highlighted that the facility uses 10% of the county's water, projecting a total water deficit by 2030. Ocasio-Cortez is advocating for the EPA to mandate water testing for communities before, during, and after data center construction.
During a Capitol Hill hearing, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez challenged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its oversight of clean drinking water, specifically citing concerns in Georgia related to data center operations. Ocasio-Cortez recounted a recent visit to north Georgia, where she observed significant water usage by a Meta data center in Morgan County.
She stated that the Meta facility alone consumes 10% of Morgan County's water supply, leading to a projected total water deficit for the county by 2030. To underscore her point, Ocasio-Cortez presented two jars of well water, asserting that the water quality near the data center was undrinkable. The EPA committed to investigating the issues raised in Morgan County.
Highlighting that similar water challenges are occurring nationwide, Ocasio-Cortez urged the EPA to implement a mandatory water testing program for communities. This program would require testing before, during, and after data center construction to monitor and address potential impacts on local water resources.