Data Centers and Their Environmental Impact

by Barry Sulkin, Chief Scientist for Tennessee Riverkeeper

Data centers for internet computing, especially with the rapid upsurge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) are a hot topic and seem to be popping up – or at least being planned – everywhere, especially The Deep South.  There are reportedly between 19 and 60 currently in Tennessee, with more planned. Alabama has at least 13 existing and 13 proposed.

Most recently data centers proposed in Nashville near the zoo and at Fisk University have been hot topics daily in the news.  And there are others proposed in places like McMinnville and Lawrenceburg.  Proponents say we need them due to the high use of cell phones and other technology most of us use.  On the other hand, they are causing problems, and are lightly or poorly regulated, if at all.

Common concerns are noise from these giant warehouses with generators and other equipment, that get inserted into previously quiet neighborhoods or rural areas.  And air pollution from those generators, and light pollution from the bright security lights.  Land conversion can be sudden and massive – some described as being the size of 70 football fields – with little consideration for compatibility with surrounding area or their neighbors.  And in some locations, with little zoning or local control.

The main issues from the Riverkeeper perspective are impacts to water.  Types of impacts can vary, depending on location and circumstances at a site.

To keep the data center equipment from overheating, lots of cooling water gets used.  If the source of water is a small local utility, it can put a large new demand on available water.  If the source is wells, it can deplete groundwater for surrounding neighbors on wells.  If cooling water is recirculated in a closed loop system, water can still be lost by evaporation during cooling.  Contaminants already in the water can concentrate, along with other chemicals that are added for corrosion and biological controls – like biocides and corrosion inhibitors that can contain PFAS “Forever Chemicals” and other harmful substances.

At some point the closed loop systems might have to be purged to clear the build-up.  And once through systems have to discharge on a regular basis.  Where these discharges go matters in terms of impacts – to a local sewage system, to a small area stream or a big river, or onto adjacent land.  And then there’s the runoff from construction of these huge data factories – muddy water – along with contaminants from post construction from all the roofs, parking lots, evaporators and vents.

Regulation of these discharges is a mixed bag – or non-existent.  The companies claim they are doing nothing wrong or meeting all requirements (even if there are none), and regulatory agencies don’t always do much – or anything.  Impacted neighbors don’t know where to turn for help, or might not have the resources to do anything other than complain.

In some places, citizens are bringing water impacts from data centers to public attention, and sometimes taking action.

In the small town of Boardman in eastern Oregon, people rely on groundwater where there was already a problem with elevated nitrates from agricultural impacts.  When data centers started moving in the nitrate problem escalated rapidly from concentrating chemicals in the cooling water, with discharges onto nearby sandy farmland.  Neighbors reportedly now can’t safely use their well water.

In Stanton Springs, Georgia about 25 miles east of Atlanta, neighbors’ wells have become contaminated with sediment, dropping pressure, clogging appliances and making water unusable.  Nearby, the massive Meta data center - this being one reported as the size of 70 football fields -  is the only obvious change in the area, but of course they claim they are doing nothing wrong and following all requirements.  (see BBC news story – link can be added)

South of Atlanta in Fayetteville sediment runoff from a huge QTS Data Center has been plaguing the area – and neighbors – since construction began in 2023.  The sediment comes with an orange floc from additives put in the stormwater to capture the mud and possible contaminants (like metals), all of which flows into an adjacent stream and on to the river.  As usual, the company says they’re doing everything correctly.  Citizens got fed up and took their own action by partnering with a fellow Riverkeeper organization (Flint Riverkeeper), and in May filed a citizen suit Notice of Intent to Sue under the federal Clean Water Act. MORE INFO FROM CBS NEWS. (Also see NOIS.)

Data Centers aren’t going away – and more are coming.  Companies need to figure out how to do a better job, regulators need to figure out how to get control of the problems, and citizens have to sometimes take their own action.