Rep. Hageman says call with Meta over Cheyenne wastewater contamination was productive
Rep. Harriet Hageman had a "productive" call with Meta regarding a contractor-caused wastewater contamination incident at its Cheyenne data center. The incident involved a rare bacterium being leaked, prompting the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities to permanently revoke the data center's sewage connection and charge Meta for all remediation costs. Hageman continues to seek answers from Meta about the failure and its closed-loop cooling system.
Wyoming House Rep. Harriet Hageman reported a "productive" conversation with Meta concerning a contractor-induced wastewater contamination event at the company's data center in Cheyenne. The incident involved the accidental discharge of Cupriavidus gilardii bacteria into Cheyenne's wastewater reclamation system, which caused a two-month delay in the system's opening for the 2026 season. Hageman emphasized Meta's commitment to improved communication and ongoing testing to confirm water safety.
In a July 9 letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Rep. Hageman had previously criticized Meta's contractor, Goat Systems, and requested full disclosure of information regarding the contamination. She expressed concern over the high water consumption rates of data centers and specifically questioned the failure of Meta's closed-loop cooling system, which is typically promoted as a water-saving technology.
The Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities (BOPU), according to administrative and public affairs coordinator Erin Lamb, has permanently revoked the upcoming Meta data center's sewage connection privileges. Additionally, Meta will be held responsible for all remediation costs, which are described as "pretty substantial" in terms of labor, materials, and chemical expenses.
Despite these actions, Rep. Hageman remains unsatisfied and continues to press Meta for answers to her specific questions about the incident's cause and prevention.