When Beverly Morris retired in 2016, she envisioned a serene life in rural Georgia, only to find her dream home disrupted by a data center mere 400 yards away. This massive, windowless structure houses countless servers and powers various online services, from banking to AI tools like ChatGPT.
“I can’t live in my home with half of it functioning and no water,” she laments. Morris claims construction of the Meta-owned facility has compromised her well, leading to sediment buildup, forcing her to transport water for basic needs.
Despite tangled plumbing issues, Morris hesitates to drink the water but continues to use it for cooking and oral hygiene. She remains concerned; however, Meta refutes any connection to her water problems, insisting through a statement that it prioritizes neighborly relations. An independent groundwater study concluded that their operation does not negatively impact local water conditions.
Morris feels differently, stating, “This was my perfect spot, but it isn’t anymore.” As the digital landscape grows, so do the number of data centers, particularly in the US, intensifying local complaints. Beyond construction concerns, high water consumption for cooling these facilities poses another significant issue.
The climate in Georgia offers a natural resource for these operations, attracting substantial investment but raising questions about environmental impact. Non-profit groups, like Flint Riverkeeper, are monitoring pollution and sediment runoff from these developments, indicating potential risks to local ecosystems.
Source: www.bbc.com
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