St. Joseph Co. Drainage Board approves altered proposal for Amazon data center dewatering

The St. Joseph County Drainage Board has approved an adjusted proposal for Amazon's data center dewatering operations in New Carlisle, Indiana. The decision allows Amazon to discharge up to 31 million gallons of water daily from its construction site, a reduction from its initial request of 35 million gallons per day. This approval follows months of tracking by WSBT22 and multiple delays by the Drainage Board, which considered significant community concerns. Neighboring farmers voiced opposition, worried about the potential impact of dewatering on their farmlands and properties. In response to the community's pushback, Amazon met with farmers and provided a "letter of commitment" emphasizing transparency. As part of the approved plan, monitoring devices will be installed along the ditch to track water levels, and the St. Joseph County Drainage Board retains the authority to suspend dewatering efforts if levels become excessively high. Amazon is scheduled to begin the draining process on Monday.