Environmental group requests water usage information for SC Meta data center

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Today, on behalf of itself and Frank Heindel, the Southern Environmental Law Center requested documents from Aiken County regarding the anticipated water usage of Meta’s proposed data center located at Sage Mill Industrial Park in Aiken, SC. The request was submitted under the Freedom of Information Act at the beginning of Sunshine Week, a national initiative to showcase the importance of government transparency.

The Freedom of Information Act request, or “FOIA,” asked Aiken County to provide all records they have related to:

• The data center’s anticipated daily, monthly, and annual water consumption;
• Proposed or anticipated infrastructure upgrades; and
• Any negotiations between Aiken County and Meta, including financial incentives, reduced water rates, or tax incentives.

“Transparency is essential when it comes to protecting the water South Carolinians rely on for their livelihoods, health, and recreation,” said Emily Wyche, SELC staff attorney. “With this information, we hope to get a better picture of how our public water resources are being used.”

Data centers use millions of gallons of water to cool their servers. A mid-size data center can consume around 300,000 gallons of water a day––as much as 1,000 U.S. households. Yet, despite the massive strain on water supply, the companies operating data centers lack transparency about their water use.