Questions Raised About Water Use at QTS Data Center in Fayetteville, Georgia
A QTS data center campus, including a Microsoft AI superfactory, is under construction in Fayetteville, Fayette County, Georgia, and has faced opposition from neighbors concerned about power, water, and land use impacts. Recent investigations revealed questions about the data center's water usage during construction, prompting clarification from Fayette County regarding initial billing discrepancies. While initially flagged, the county and QTS clarified that no improper water use occurred, attributing the issue to a billing system transition.
A large and controversial data center campus, developed by QTS and featuring a Microsoft AI superfactory, is currently under construction in Fayetteville, Fayette County, Georgia. The multi-year development spans over 600 acres and is situated approximately 20 miles south of Atlanta.
The project has faced strong opposition from local residents, including Diana Dietz and Willard Neal, who moved to Fayetteville for its quiet community. Neighbors voiced concerns to city leaders about the data center's anticipated impact on power grid capacity, water consumption, land use, and potential increases in utility costs. Willard Neal, an 87-year-old resident whose backyard borders the data center, described living next to it as "terrible."
Investigations by Atlanta News First (ANF), a sister station to WBRC, unearthed records that initially suggested QTS had installed two water lines without county knowledge or inspection. While a Fayette County water system director sent a letter to QTS outlining this, the county later clarified that its letter was "unclear," attributing the confusion to a smart meter transition that left some QTS meters off the new billing system. Both the county and QTS declined interviews, with QTS stating it did not use water improperly or without payment.
ANF's analysis of county billing records revealed QTS used approximately 20.6 million gallons from one line since February 2024, and a total of 109 million gallons across 13 lines for construction activities like dust control and concrete work. QTS projects significantly lower water use (9,000-12,000 gallons/month) once fully operational in 2030, utilizing a closed-loop recirculation system. Fayette County reported QTS uses less than one percent of its monthly water supply. Ahmed Saeed, a Georgia Institute of Technology researcher, stated these water figures alone are not alarming, noting similar usage by other industries.