Georgia data center’s 30-million-gallon water draw fuels local backlash

Residents of Fayetteville, GA noticed unusually low water pressure, triggering an investigation that uncovered two large unmetered connections feeding a major data center campus. The unbilled use totaled about 29–30 million gallons, prompting a retroactive charge around $147,000. Officials say a system transition to smart meters and a procedural mix‑up led to the missing meters, and the utility has since fully integrated the data center’s meters. The company, QTS, says future water use will be limited to domestic needs after construction. The episode has intensified local backlash against data centers in Georgia, where drought conditions and new restrictions on data-center development heighten tensions over water resources, though officials note no fines were levied.