Meta datacenter contractor flushed contaminated water

3 hours ago

A contractor for Meta's AI datacenter in Cheyenne, Wyoming, flushed bacteria-contaminated water into public sewers, leading to strict safety regulations.
Meta's general contractor, Fortis, was ordered to cooperate with authorities; contamination did not affect drinking water, and independent tests found no trace of the bacterium.
The incident involves Cupriavidus gilardii, a rare bacterium considered an opportunistic pathogen, with only seven reported human infection cases, including fatalities.
Cheyenne revoked Meta's discharge authority, banned wastewater from datacenters with closed loop cooling systems, and requires separate collection systems for offsite disposal.
Public opposition to datacenters is rising due to water and energy demands, with the U.S. having nearly 4,500 datacenters consuming up to 300,000 gallons of water daily.
Meta claims immediate action was taken upon discovery, emphasizing commitment to protecting local water resources and resolving the situation through collaboration.

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