Meta’s AI Data Center Sparks Water Crisis in Georgia, Reflecting Wider Industry Strain

Meta’s new AI data center project in Newton County, Georgia—codenamed “Hyperion”—has triggered a local water crisis by drawing millions of gallons of groundwater daily for construction. Residents near the site have reported their private wells running dry, leaving homes without access to running water. This situation exemplifies a growing national concern as AI data centers, which rely heavily on water-intensive evaporative cooling systems, expand rapidly across water-stressed regions such as Georgia, Arizona, and Texas.

Despite public commitments from Meta, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon to become “water positive” by 2030—restoring more water than they consume—critics argue these goals are often achieved through indirect offsets rather than by replenishing the exact water sources being depleted. As a result, local ecosystems and communities continue to bear the brunt of the resource demand.

Community resistance is mounting. In some areas, like Mesa, Arizona, city councils have enacted stricter water regulations for large facilities, requiring the purchase of water rights and limiting drawdowns. Nationally, growing opposition has delayed or canceled more than $47 billion worth of data center projects due to environmental and water-related concerns.

As AI infrastructure expands, its massive water footprint is becoming a pressing environmental issue. While some companies are experimenting with less water-intensive cooling alternatives, many still depend on traditional methods that place increasing strain on vulnerable water supplies. The conflict in Newton County highlights the urgent need to balance technological growth with sustainable resource management.