Blackstone data center used 110 million liters of water while residents faced shortages

A major controversy involving AI infrastructure has emerged in Georgia, USA. It has been revealed that Quality Technology Services (QTS), owned by investment giant Blackstone, illegally tapped into water lines and consumed 110 million liters of water while local residents complained about low water pressure. This was reported by Ixbt.com reports .

Water was used without authorization for the massive complex being built under the QTS Fayetteville project. Although residents were urged to conserve water due to drought, the company took water from municipal lines for construction needs, specifically for mixing concrete and dust suppression. Local water officials attributed the incident to technical errors and staff shortages.

The company was expected to pay $147,000 for the water, but county officials refused to impose a fine, citing QTS as their largest client. QTS promises to use closed-loop cooling systems in the future, but the incident has raised serious questions about the resource-intensive nature of AI technologies.

Currently, there are over 200 data centers in Georgia, and their demand for energy and water resources is causing local public outcry. Many cities have imposed a moratorium on new data center construction. This incident serves as a clear example of the conflict between technological progress and natural resource scarcity.