DEQ meeting about data center discharge water into Lake Anna tributaries turns contentious

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is seeking a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to release 280,000 gallons per day of treated cooling water from its Lake Anna Tech Campus data centers into Sedges Creek, a tributary of Lake Anna in Louisa County, Virginia.

The DEQ held a public hearing at Louisa County Middle School on Monday to address public comments. The meeting quickly became contentious, with residents expressing frustration over the limited speaking opportunities and concerns about the potential impact of the discharge on the natural water sources. Cathy Corker, a Lake Anna resident, stated, "We are affected by this and it bothers me where it is we can’t speak, we can’t put our values out there." Residents like Randy C, who lives near Sedges Creek, worried about the effects on aquatic life.

AWS stated that the cooling water would not come into contact with IT equipment, would be treated, and would only be discharged during the hottest 4% of the year. The DEQ reiterated that the proposed permit includes discharge limits for metals like zinc and copper and a daily maximum temperature limit of 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit. However, concerns about the unknown presence of PFAS were also raised, with the DEQ noting the draft permit does not currently require PFAS testing but allows for future alterations to include it.

Despite the information provided by AWS and the DEQ, residents like Nicki Atwood of Louisa County remained skeptical, citing that the water data used was from a reservoir, not actual discharge. The DEQ is expected to make a final decision on the permit, though a timeline for this decision remains unclear.