A recent article by POLITICO examines growing tensions in Fayetteville, Georgia, after residents discovered a massive data center had used nearly 30 million gallons of water through untracked utility connections. The developer, Quality Technology Services (QTS), later paid nearly $150,000 in retroactive charges after county officials found two industrial-scale hookups were not properly monitored or billed.

The controversy intensified amid drought conditions and local calls for water conservation, fueling broader concerns about the environmental impact of rapidly expanding data centers. Greg Pierce, senior director of the Luskin Center for Innovation and the director of the Human Right to Water Solutions Lab, questioned why the company avoided penalties.

“I don’t know exactly what’s happening here, but they probably don’t want to upset one of their new and largest customers,” Pierce said.