Jakarta, ThedailyID — A Meta AI data center in Wyoming, United States, has faced concerns over possible bacterial contamination in wastewater discharged into a local water system.
The concern came after the government in Cheyenne tested wastewater regularly discharged from the facility. The testing detected Cupriavidus gilardii in around 801,000 gallons of wastewater released by the data center’s contractor earlier this year.
The wastewater was not intended for the city’s drinking water supply. However, local officials remained concerned about potential exposure, including through water vapor from irrigation.
As a precaution, the city of Cheyenne stopped accepting wastewater from Meta contractor Goat Systems in July. The decision followed several months of testing and review.
“This is very surprising. As a precautionary measure, we have stopped accepting it until we can get more information,” Frank Strong, Water Resources Manager at the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities, said, according to The Guardian on Tuesday, September 8.
Meta later conducted its own investigation with its contractor. The company said its testing did not detect Cupriavidus gilardii.
Meta also questioned the validity of the city’s testing. However, the company said it remained committed to protecting local water resources.
“Meta is committed to being a good neighbor in Cheyenne, including helping protect local water resources,” the company said.
The issue also drew attention from US Congress member Harriet Hageman, a Republican representing Wyoming. She sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg seeking answers about the reported contamination.
Hageman said water is an important resource in the United States. She also questioned concerns over water use at AI data centers.
“Water is an incredibly valuable resource for us. Therefore, we are concerned that a system intended to reduce water use at data centers could instead cause water contamination,” Hageman wrote in her letter.
The controversy comes as AI data centers face growing scrutiny over their water consumption. These facilities use water for cooling computer systems that require large amounts of energy.
Meta’s Wyoming complex covers around 388 hectares and represents an investment of about US$800 million.
The facility uses water in a process known as fill and flush. The process helps prevent minerals and scale from building up inside pipes.
However, discharged water can contain substances such as heavy metals or PFAS, depending on the system and conditions. PFAS are often called “forever chemicals” because they are difficult to break down.
Data center operators also use closed-loop cooling systems to reduce water consumption. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the temperature and quality of water discharged from some facilities.
Research cited in the report indicates that data centers can require significant amounts of water during construction and operation. A medium-sized facility, for example, can use around 300,000 gallons of water per day.
At the same time, the data center industry argues that its water consumption remains relatively small compared with sectors such as agriculture.
The Wyoming case highlights the growing debate over the environmental impact of AI infrastructure. It also shows the tension between expanding data center capacity and protecting local water resources.
