They Retired Here for a Country Idyll. But Meta Had Other Plans.
A data center Meta built near Mansfield, Georgia, has been blamed by nearby residents Jeff and Beverly Morris for contaminating their well water, damaging appliances and creating disruptive light pollution. The Morrises and other plaintiffs sued Meta, development companies and authorities, while Rep. Ro Khanna is seeking answers from Meta and advocating stronger data center safeguards and local moratoriums.
Jeff and Beverly Morris say their rural property outside Mansfield, Georgia, suffered severe well-water problems after Meta began building a data center less than 400 yards from their home in 2017. They report brown, sediment-filled water, corroded appliances, reduced access to usable bathrooms and bright nighttime lighting from the facility. Meta has reportedly suggested the problems may stem from the homeowners’ maintenance or property conditions, a claim the Morrises dispute.
Rep. Ro Khanna visited the couple, reviewed their contaminated water samples and sent Meta a letter seeking explanations about the project and its site-selection process. The Morrises and co-plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in August against Meta, development companies and authorities. Khanna is also promoting a Data Center Bill of Rights and arguing that communities should have a say in siting decisions, while calling for state and local moratoriums until environmental and community impacts can be studied.