Data Centers Face Water Backlash

Data-center projects in Georgia, Arizona, and the Mountain West are facing sharper scrutiny over water use as drought, regional scarcity, and competing demands raise local concerns.

A QTS campus in Fayette County, Georgia, used nearly 30 million gallons through connections officials said were unmetered or unauthorized, while Arizona residents and officials challenged Project Blue over water, power, and infrastructure costs. The disputes are prompting tighter oversight, zoning restrictions, and policy proposals, while developers and supporters argue that project-specific designs, water-right transfers, and local context should guide decisions.