TL;DR
Cheyenne authorities halted all water discharges from Meta’s data center operations after discovering a rare bacterium in reclaimed water. The contamination prompted a temporary shutdown of the city’s reuse system and raised safety concerns. The situation remains under investigation, with efforts underway to ensure safety and compliance.
Cheyenne’s water utility has suspended all water discharges from Meta’s data center cooling operations after detecting a rare bacterium, Cupriavidus gilardii, in the city’s reclaimed water supply. The move follows the identification of the bacterium in water routed by contractor Goat Systems LLC, which is building Meta’s Cheyenne campus. This suspension affects all data centers connected to city services and highlights potential environmental and public health concerns.
The Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities revoked Goat Systems LLC’s discharge privileges on March 24 after tracing Cupriavidus gilardii, a metal-resistant bacterium, in water used during the fill-and-flush process for cooling systems. The bacterium was found during routine sampling in February, though it is not a regulated contaminant. Goat Systems routed contaminated water into the city’s sanitary sewer, prompting the suspension of all discharges related to Meta’s data center projects.
According to Frank Strong, the Board’s engineering and water resource division manager, the bacterium’s source remains unknown, but independent tests conducted by Meta’s contractor have found no traces of Cupriavidus gilardii in subsequent samples. The city’s water treatment facilities at Dry Creek and Crow Creek have cleared the system for reuse, which has now been restored. The Board expressed concerns about the potential aerosol hazard during irrigation of green spaces with reclaimed water, as well as chemical carryover from closed-loop cooling systems, which municipal treatment plants are not designed to handle.
Implications for Data Center Cooling and Water Safety
This incident underscores the environmental and public health risks associated with the use of closed-loop cooling systems in data centers, especially as they expand into communities. The detection of Cupriavidus gilardii, although not regulated, prompted immediate suspension of discharges and raised questions about the safety of using reclaimed water for irrigation and other purposes. The episode highlights the need for stricter oversight and testing protocols for water used in industrial cooling processes, particularly as technology companies adopt near-zero-water cooling solutions.
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Background on Water Discharges and Data Center Cooling Practices
Data centers increasingly adopt sealed, recirculating cooling systems like those promoted by Microsoft and Nvidia to reduce water consumption. These systems are filled once during construction, with the water recirculated to minimize discharge. However, the initial fill and flush steps generate wastewater that must be properly managed. Meta’s Cheyenne project, like others, uses such systems, which involve routing water into municipal sewer systems. Recent concerns about water treatment and environmental safety have grown as the industry expands into new regions.
In this case, routine testing in February detected Cupriavidus gilardii, a bacterium resistant to metals, in water routed from the cooling system into the sewer. The bacterium’s presence in the reclaimed water system prompted the city to investigate and ultimately suspend all related discharges, affecting multiple data centers under construction or operation.
“All discharges related to Meta’s data center projects are suspended until further notice.”
— Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities
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Unresolved Questions About the Bacterium’s Source and Impact
It is not yet clear how Cupriavidus gilardii entered the water system or whether it poses a long-term health or environmental risk. The full extent of contamination and whether other water systems are affected remains under investigation. Additionally, the precise impact on other data centers and the effectiveness of current mitigation measures are still being evaluated.
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Next Steps in Investigation and System Reassessment
Authorities will continue testing the reclaimed water and monitoring the situation closely. Meta and its contractors are expected to review their water management protocols and implement additional safeguards. The city plans to resume discharges once it confirms the water is free of contamination and assesses the safety measures in place. Further updates are anticipated as investigations progress and new data become available.
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Key Questions
What is Cupriavidus gilardii?
Cupriavidus gilardii is a metal-resistant bacterium that is not regulated but can interfere with water treatment processes. Its presence in reclaimed water is unusual and prompted concern in this case.
Why did the city suspend water discharges from Meta’s data centers?
The city suspended discharges after detecting Cupriavidus gilardii in the water routed from the cooling systems, to prevent potential environmental or public health risks.
Are other water systems affected?
It is currently unclear whether other systems are contaminated. Ongoing testing aims to determine the full scope of the issue.
Will the discharges be resumed?
Discharges will likely resume once authorities confirm the water is free of contamination and safety protocols are verified.
Could this affect the expansion of data centers in Cheyenne?
The suspension may impact ongoing or planned data center projects, depending on how long it takes to resolve the contamination concerns.
Source: Google Trends
