The Impact of Data Centres on Rural Communities
In the serene backdrop of rural Georgia, Beverly Morris believed she had found her ideal retirement home. However, since the establishment of a large data centre just a short distance from her property in Mansfield, her dreams have been overshadowed by significant disruptions to her water supply.
Once enveloped by tranquility, Morris now faces daunting challenges. The property she cherished is marred by low water pressure and tainted water quality, a situation she attributes to the construction of the data centre operated by Meta, the parent company of Facebook. “I can’t live in my home with half of my home functioning and no water,” Morris lamented. She now resorts to using buckets to flush her toilet and has found the water from her tap unfit for consumption, stating, “I’m afraid to drink the water, but I still cook with it, and brush my teeth with it.” While Meta has maintained that their operations have had no adverse effects on local groundwater, Morris feels that the company has overstayed its welcome.
Rising Concerns Over Water Usage
The number of data centres in the U.S. is on the rise, with a reported 10,000 facilities worldwide, primarily situated in the U.S., followed by the U.K. and Germany. As artificial intelligence technology accelerates online activities, the demand for data centres grows alongside community concerns about their environmental impacts. According to Data Center Watch, local activism has led to delays or blocks on $64 billion worth of projects across the country, with significant complaints centered around water usage.
Most data centres utilize evaporative cooling systems, which can consume substantial amounts of water, especially during peak operational periods. Mark Mills from the National Center for Energy Analytics highlighted the enormous water requirements needed to cool the processors. On particularly hot days, a single data centre can use millions of gallons, raising alarms over water scarcity. A recent study estimates that AI-driven data centres could account for a staggering 1.7 trillion gallons of water consumption globally by 2027.
Georgia: A Hotbed of Data Centre Development
Georgia’s humid climate plays a pivotal role in making it an attractive landscape for data centre development due to cost-effective water acquisition for cooling purposes. Yet, this abundance carries a hidden cost. Gordon Rogers, the executive director of Flint Riverkeeper, expressed concern over the environmental implications, citing a creek near a new data centre where sediment runoff could disrupt local ecosystems. Volunteers examining the water found it clouded and brown, raising red flags about possible pollution from construction materials.
Local residents often bear the brunt of these developments, with little recourse against larger property owners. As Rogers contends, “A larger wealthier property owner does not have more property rights than a smaller, less wealthy property owner.” Despite tech giants like Amazon Web Services (AWS) claiming awareness of these critical issues and promising sustainable practices, the reality for communities like that of Morris remains fraught with uncertainty.
The Future of Data Centres
Prof. Rajiv Garg, an expert in cloud computing at Emory University, asserts that data centres are ingrained in modern infrastructure and are not going away anytime soon. He advocates for a holistic approach towards sustainability that includes smarter cooling technology, rainwater harvesting strategies, and innovative infrastructure development. While he admits that data centres will induce substantial strain initially, the industry is gradually shifting towards more sustainable practices.
As the digital landscape evolves, local residents like Beverly Morris face a seemingly Sisyphean struggle between enjoying their idyllic lifestyles and the pressing demands of technological expansion. They are left to ponder: how can we supplement the growing digital needs without jeopardizing essential resources, like water?
| Data Centre Impact | Potential Water Usage |
|---|---|
| Single Data Centre | Millions of gallons per day in peak heat |
| AI-Driven Data Centres (by 2027) | 1.7 trillion gallons globally |
Georgia stands at the intersection of rural life and modern technological needs, exemplifying the challenges communities face as data centres continue to proliferate. The future remains uncertain, as residents raise their voices against the burgeoning industry, seeking a balance that safeguards their homes and access to crucial resources.
