Beverly Morris, a resident of Fayette County, Georgia, faces daily challenges due to low water pressure caused by a new data centre being built just 400 yards from her home. To flush her toilet, she has to use a bucket, as she was a few months back. This instance illustrates the growing battle between local communities and the tidal wave of new data centers. Tech behemoths, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), are leading the charge on this growth.
Given these concerns and opposition, residents have rallied against the construction of this massive data centre. They’re worried that its incredible water usage will deprive local communities of water resources. AWS operates more data centers than any other company on the planet. It has faced increasing criticism for its impact on the environment, most notably, its excessive water use. Morris expressed her frustrations succinctly:
“I can’t live in my home with half of my home functioning and no water.” – Beverly Morris
No one disputes that data centres use an awful lot of water — particularly on the hottest days of the year. Will Hewes, the global water stewardship lead at AWS, made a notable observation. He explained that in the Americas, water is applied on just 10% of the scorching days annually. On those hot days, one facility alone can use up to 6 million gallons. This large-scale temporary use has sparked widespread concern among local activists and residents.
The build-out of data centres has been the focus of a growing contentious issue across the country. Data Center Watch Local opposition is leading to impressive delays. Nationwide, there are about $64 billion of projects that are currently blocked or stalled on the ground. In Fayette County, the experiences of residents reflect these national trends as they speak out about their concerns over a lack of available water.
Environmental advocates have long been sounding the alarm on the long-term impacts of these toxic facilities. Gordon Rogers is the executive director of Flint Riverkeeper. He’s been on the front lines of the fight to save Georgia’s beloved Flint River, now under siege from the sprawling development of data centers. As more tech companies grow their footprints, the pressure on local ecosystems starts to show.
The omnibus approach of Congress is further complicated by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). President Donald Trump mused a few years ago about creating the largest AI infrastructure project ever. This bold effort will need a significant new data center capacity. Experts estimate that AI-fueled data centres might use an additional 1.7 trillion gallons of water worldwide by 2027.
Prof Rajiv Garg, a cloud computing instructor at Emory University in Atlanta, commented on the inevitable growth of data centres. He noted that with increased innovation and increased demand, these facilities will continue to grow. Both their rapid growth pose fundamental questions about the sustainability and environmental impacts.
Despite significant pushback from local communities, tech companies like Meta assert that the growth of data centres and local activism are unrelated issues. That’s a tough sell to the residents who feel the immediate impact of new construction next to them.
After an increasing external pressure to address its usage of water, AWS has undertaken to examine its impact on local water resources. In response to Morris’s concerns about potential impacts on the water supply in her community, the company commissioned an independent groundwater study. AWS is making significant investments to ensure everyone has access to clean, safe, affordable water. They’re concentrating on areas where they do business and don’t use water for cooling.
As even more data centres come into the state of Georgia and around the country, people like Morris are staying aware and active. Local activism has grown as communities organize to fight against developments that put their most vital resources at risk. Local governments are on the cusp of an era of unprecedented investments in technology infrastructure. They need to navigate the tricky terrain of balancing industry demands with the hopes and needs of their constituents.
“Our goal is that by 2030, we’ll be putting more water back into the watersheds and communities where we’re operating data centres than we’re taking out.” – Will Hewes
As more data centres continue to emerge in Georgia and across the nation, residents like Morris remain vigilant. Local activism is on the rise as communities unite to challenge developments that threaten their essential resources. With significant investments in technology infrastructure looming on the horizon, it remains to be seen how local governments will balance the demands of industry with the needs of their constituents.