Ohio EPA Rejects Statewide Data Center Water Discharge Permit After 7,000 Public Comments

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will not move forward with a proposed statewide general permit system for data center water discharges. This decision follows a comprehensive review of more than 7,000 public comments, with the agency opting to retain its existing individual permitting process for facilities discharging water into Ohio's rivers, streams, and lakes.

The Ohio EPA initially proposed the general permitting process in October, driven by the rapid expansion of data center development across the state. In a community notice, the agency cited public feedback as a critical factor in its decision, emphasizing that individual permits will continue to uphold the same state and federal environmental standards.

Amy Swank, a community advocate monitoring data center development, voiced her support for the agency's decision. She stated that the Ohio EPA made the "right call to protect Ohioans" and that individual permitting is more sensible, as a blanket permit could expose citizens to unnecessary risks. Swank also commended the agency for its responsiveness to citizen input.

With nearly 240 data center facilities statewide, including about 125 in central Ohio, the industry's growth has raised concerns among residents and environmental advocates regarding the significant water and electricity demands of data center cooling systems. Swank highlighted the ongoing need for local communities to monitor proposed developments and their environmental impacts under the reinstated individual permitting system.