Thirsty machines: AI data centers need for water prompts local worries over supplies, impacts
Meta is constructing a $1 billion hyperscale data center in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, raising significant local concerns over water supply and quality. Residents report issues with local water bodies and wells since construction began. The article highlights similar issues and community opposition to data center developments across other US locations, including a moratorium in Dubuque County, Iowa, and an infrastructure funding deal in Ashville, Ohio, for an EdgeConneX project.
Maily Kocinski, a resident of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, has voiced significant concerns regarding the construction of a $1 billion hyperscale data center by Meta Platforms Inc. near her family farm. Since construction began, Kocinski claims to have experienced issues with her creek drying up and gushing, leading to erosion, and neighboring wells going dry. She also reported murky water at her home, with a commissioned water study revealing high levels of strontium. Kocinski questions the adequacy of environmental due diligence before construction, speculating that blasting at the site might be a contributing factor.
Meta responded, stating that third-party analysis and GIS data indicate the creek originates from a quarry near Kocinski's property and does not extend into the data center parcel. The company also noted that construction is occurring on parts of the property farthest from her farm. Beaver Dam Mayor Roberta Marck has met with the Kocinskis and Meta representatives. Meta emphasized its use of efficient, closed-loop cooling systems and its commitment to investing in operational water efficiencies and local water restoration projects.
The article frames Kocinski's experience as part of a broader national debate over the water and energy demands of AI infrastructure. Experts like Rich Razgaitis of FloWater highlighted that a data center's impact depends heavily on local water supplies, emphasizing the need for transparency and community involvement. Tim Negris of MOCA Systems Inc. pointed out that community resistance often stems from farmers' concerns about water and land. For instance, Dubuque County, Iowa, approved a one-year data center moratorium in May due to local worries about water, energy, and farmland.
The discussion also touched on electricity demands and potential infrastructure upgrades. Jesse Burke, a town council member in Ashville, Ohio, noted that an 800-megawatt AI data center by EdgeConneX was approved before a local moratorium. As part of the deal, EdgeConneX agreed to fund up to $35 million in upgrades to Ashville's municipal water plant and contribute to local schools. In Ashville, concerns primarily focus on power generation, air quality, and noise from a proposed on-site 800-megawatt natural gas power plant. Razgaitis also warned that while closed-loop cooling systems reduce water use, they increase electricity consumption.