As the United States grapples with the environmental implications of a booming data centre industry, a stark reminder has emerged in Wyoming: even in the digital age, water is a finite resource that demands careful management. In Cheyenne, authorities have tightened regulations on wastewater disposal from large-scale construction projects, particularly data centres, following a contractor for Meta discharging contaminated water into public sewers. The incident occurred during the construction of a new artificial intelligence (AI) data centre and has prompted immediate action to prevent future occurrences.
The contamination, discovered in February through routine testing of wastewater from the data centre's cooling system, involved the naturally occurring bacterium Cupriavidus gilardii. While Meta clarified that drinking water supplies were not affected, and its own independent testing found no trace of the substance, the city identified Goat Systems LLC, a contractor on the Project Cosmo facility, as responsible. Consequently, Cheyenne has permanently revoked Meta’s authorisation to discharge waste into its water treatment facilities, which are crucial for recycling water used for irrigation in local parks and public spaces.
In response to the incident, Cheyenne has adopted a new policy that explicitly prohibits wastewater discharges from data centres utilising closed-loop cooling systems and fill-and-flush systems. These systems, designed to circulate purified water to remove construction debris and residues, are now subject to stringent controls. Frank Strong, BOPU’s engineering and water resource division manager, highlighted concerns that discharging such water into the city's reuse system, where it is aerosolised for irrigation, could increase potential health risks, even though Cupriavidus gilardii is considered an opportunistic pathogen primarily harmful to individuals with compromised immune systems.
Meta has publicly stated its commitment to being a "good neighbour" and has instructed its general contractor, Fortis, to cooperate fully with BOPU to ensure compliance and prevent any recurrence. The company noted that upon learning of the issue, Fortis immediately ceased discharging industrial wastewater and began hauling it offsite. This incident unfolds against a backdrop of increasing national debate in the United States regarding the environmental impact of data centres, which are known for their substantial demands on local water and energy resources. Critics argue that the rapid expansion of these facilities, with some consuming hundreds of thousands of gallons of water daily, places unsustainable pressure on community infrastructure.
The rare nature of human infections from Cupriavidus gilardii, with only a handful of cases reported globally, underscores the preventative measures taken by Cheyenne officials. While the exact timing of the bacterium's entry into the water remains unknown, its presence during routine fecal bacteria testing was sufficient to trigger the new regulatory framework. The city's irrigation programme, which had been paused pending further investigation, is expected to resume once confidence in the safety of treated wastewater has been restored.