Georgia Data Center Drains 30 Million Gallons, Exposing Weak Water Monitoring

An investigation in Fayette County, Georgia found that Quality Technology Services’ data center used nearly 30 million gallons of water without being billed due to two unmonitored hookups (one installed without the utility’s knowledge and the other not linked to the account). The county, understaffed and transitioning to smart meters, retroactively billed QTS but imposed no penalties, prompting resident anger and questions about oversight. The episode underscores broader concerns about AI/data-center water demand and highlights the need for better monitoring, leak detection, and environmental reviews before approving new centers.