Georgia data center used nearly 30 million gallons of water without paying, prompting concerns about AI infrastructure and water scarcity

Quality Technology Services (QTS) facility in Fayette County, Georgia had two industrial-scale water hookups that weren't being monitored—one installed without the utility's knowledge, the other not linked to the company's account—allowing nearly 30 million gallons of water to go unbilled before discovery.

QTS eventually paid about $150,000 for the water after the billing issue was flagged, but the county imposed no penalties for exceeding peak limits established during the data center planning process, instead dismissing it as a 'procedural mix-up.'

The water consumption occurred while nearby residents were warned to restrict their personal water consumption due to drought conditions, and some reported decreases in water pressure, fueling distrust in both QTS and the county.

Broader AI industry water demands extend beyond data centers: semiconductor factories and power plants powering chipmaking consume more water than data centers themselves, and over the next 25 years, 'AI-associated water use will more than double' according to research from water technology company Xylem.