Georgia families sue Meta, accuse its data center of tainting their water
Homeowners in Newton County, Georgia have filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging that the construction of its data center polluted their well water with silt and sediment, damaged appliances, and caused dust storms. They also claim the data center's bright lights are destroying their rural way of life. The suit attributes these issues to extensive tree clearing, blasting, and excavation during the facility's construction.
Several homeowners residing near Meta's extensive Newton County data center in Georgia have initiated a lawsuit against the tech giant, alleging that the construction of the facility has contaminated their water supply and disrupted their rural lifestyle. The plaintiffs contend that substantial tree clearing, blasting, and excavation activities, essential for building the over $1 billion campus, disturbed the local underground aquifer.
This disturbance, according to the complaint, resulted in well water becoming polluted with silt and sediment, which subsequently clogged water lines and damaged household appliances. Furthermore, the lawsuit describes sporadic dust storms attributed to the widespread clear-cutting of trees and states that the data center's bright lights are visible from homes at night, obscuring the stars.