Cheyenne’s Goat Systems faces wastewater compliance issues impacting data center operations
Goat Systems' new data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, is facing wastewater compliance issues due to the contamination of the city's treatment processes with Cupriavidus gilardii bacteria. As a result, the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities has suspended all industrial discharges associated with data center fill and flush and closed-loop system operations until further notice, impacting Goat Systems' operations at the Meta Cheyenne Datacenter.
The Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities (BOPU) announced a suspension of industrial discharges associated with data center operations, citing a noncompliance violation. Goat Systems LLC was identified as having been issued a Noncompliance Violation Notice for contaminating the city's wastewater treatment processes with Cupriavidus gilardii bacteria.
Goat Systems, which is currently constructing an 800,000-square-foot campus in Cheyenne, was found to be in Significant Noncompliance (SNC) with City Code. The company immediately ceased discharge of wastewater from its fill and flush operation at the Meta Cheyenne Datacenter CHY 1-2 upon notification of the pollutant's presence.
BOPU spokeswoman Erin Lamb indicated that the policy change would primarily impact newer data centers coming online in the Cheyenne area. The article also referenced the industry trend towards closed-loop systems, which aim to balance performance with environmental responsibility by circulating coolant through sealed systems to reduce constant water replenishment needs.