AOC presses EPA official on data center water contamination
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez questioned an EPA official regarding reports of water contamination in Morgan County, Georgia, following the construction of a Meta data center. Families in the area are reportedly forced to ship in water for basic needs due to the unpotable well water. The EPA official committed to investigating the issue upon returning to their office.
During a congressional hearing, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pressed an EPA official on serious water contamination issues reported in Morgan County, Georgia.
She presented jars of discolored water, stating it was the current drinking water from multiple wells in the county, which residents were forced to consume following the construction of a Meta data center. According to Ocasio-Cortez, the only significant change in the area before the contamination was the data center's construction, leading families to ship in water for cooking and bathing.
Ocasio-Cortez inquired whether the EPA planned specific investigations into how data centers impact water quality and availability. The unnamed EPA official affirmed that they would look into the matter immediately upon returning to their office, emphasizing the agency's priority to ensure established water quality standards are met, regardless of the type of construction.