- Data centers in Georgia and Arizona have been found using restricted public water sources, causing concerns among residents and regulators.
Data centers continue to use public water supplies without authorization, leaving residents in water-stressed communities to bear the consequences.
During the first week of May, two separate data center developments were found using restricted public water sources in areas already struggling with limited water availability, Fortune reports. Residents were the first to notice the problem and alert regulators, reporting issues such as low water pressure in Fayette County, Georgia, and dust suppression efforts in Tucson, Arizona.
Data Center Water Disputes Emerge in Georgia and Arizona
In the Annelise Park subdivision in Fayette County, GA, residents began noticing declining water pressure last year, per Fortune. An investigation by county utilities uncovered two industrial-scale water connections serving Project Excalibur, a 615-acre data center campus owned by Blackstone and developed by Quality Technology Services (QTS).
County officials notified QTS in May 2025 that one meter had allegedly been installed without the county’s knowledge, while another was not connected to the company’s billing account. County officials later said the issue stemmed from an error during the transition to smart water meters. By the time officials discovered the issue, QTS had consumed more than 29 million gallons of water, or roughly 44 Olympic-sized swimming pools, per Fortune…