Georgia data center drains 30 million gallons of water, sparking local outcry over unmetered use
Residents in Fayetteville, GA, noticed unusually low water pressure, triggering an investigation that revealed two industrial water hookups feeding Quality Technology Services’ data center campus. One connection was installed without the utility’s knowledge and the other wasn’t billed, leaving the center owing roughly $147,000 for about 29–30 million gallons of unaccounted water during the county’s transition to smart meters. After the retroactive charges were paid and meters integrated, officials cited a procedural mix-up. The case has fueled local backlash against rapid data-center growth amid drought concerns, even as QTS argues its cooling is largely closed-loop and that full-water use will be domestic once the campus is fully operational.