Hageman Demands Answers From Zuckerberg About Cheyenne Data Center Contamination
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman has demanded answers from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg regarding a wastewater contamination incident at its Cheyenne data center. The incident, traced to a Meta contractor, led to the shutdown of the city's reclaimed wastewater system for months. Hageman and local officials have expressed concern over the contamination and the delay in public disclosure.
Wyoming U.S. Representative Harriet Hageman sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, demanding answers regarding a wastewater contamination incident at the company's data center in the Cheyenne area. The contamination, which involved the bacterium Cupriavaidus gilardii, caused the City of Cheyenne's reuse water system to shut down for several months.
The Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities (BOPU) identified Goat System LLC, a Meta data center company involved in the "Project Cosmo" development, as the source of the contamination. The incident, which occurred in March, resulted in the revocation of Goat Systems' industrial discharge privileges. However, the public was not informed until June 26, with Meta being identified as the source on July 2, prompting concerns from Hageman about transparency and community trust.
Hageman specifically questioned how the contamination occurred within a supposedly closed-loop cooling system, the delay in notifying authorities, the current wastewater disposal methods, and Meta's plans for community outreach. She also raised concerns about the overall high water consumption rates of data centers. Meta, through a spokesperson, reiterated its commitment to being a good neighbor and stated that its general contractor, Fortis, immediately stopped discharging wastewater and began hauling it offsite upon notification. Fortis's independent testing found no trace of the substance.
Cheyenne City Councilman Pete Laybourn and Mayor Patrick Collins both expressed disappointment over the incident, with Laybourn noting it complicates existing arrangements with data center operators and will prompt further discussion. Mayor Collins praised the BOPU for identifying and addressing the contamination swiftly.