AI data center project secretly sucked 29 million gallons of water over 15 months before detected by residents complaining about low water pressure — officials refuse to fine massive 6.2 million-square-foot facility over unauthorized water consumption

A data center project in Fayette County, Georgia, was found to have secretly used 29 million gallons of water over 15 months without the county's knowledge, causing low water pressure in nearby homes. The facility, owned by Quality Technology Services (QTS), was not fined for the unauthorized water consumption, despite owing retroactive charges. QTS attributed the excessive water use to temporary construction activities and claimed its cooling system would only require water for domestic needs once operational. The incident raised concerns about oversight and resource limitations within the county's water department, with conflicting estimates on how long the water went unmetered. Georgia's Public Service Commission has taken steps to prevent data centers from burdening residential customers with electricity costs, as the state faces drought conditions and wildfires.