REPORT: Blackstone-Owned Data Center Drained 30 Million Gallons Of Water From Atlanta Suburb

A data center campus in Fayetteville, Georgia, codenamed "Project Excalibur" and owned by Blackstone through its subsidiary Quality Technology Services (QTS), reportedly consumed more than 29 million gallons of water without proper billing or the full awareness of the Fayette County water system. This led to residents of the nearby Annelise Park experiencing unusually low water pressure, particularly concerning amidst Georgia's ongoing drought conditions. The issue came to light following a resident's public records request, which unearthed a May 2025 letter from the county water system to QTS, indicating the firm owed $147,474 in unpaid bills. The article states that one water connection was installed without the utility's knowledge, and another was not linked to the developer's account. QTS attributed its high water consumption to ongoing construction work and maintained that its cooling system is closed-loop and does not require water for cooling. Fayette County water utility director Vanessa Tigert explained the oversight, citing the area's suburban nature and the utility's inexperience with large commercial water hookups. While QTS subsequently paid the retroactive charge, the utility's decision not to fine the company, instead seeking a "partnership," further incensed the local community. Attorney and property rights advocate James Clifton, who shared the letter with Politico, highlighted the disparity between urging residents to conserve water while the data center was a top consumer in the county.