Meta's nearly completed $800 million artificial intelligence data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, is facing scrutiny after a contractor's wastewater was found to contain a rare bacterium. The incident, which emerged during construction, led to the permanent revocation of the facility's authorization to discharge wastewater into the city's reclaimed water system.
The bacterium, identified as Cupriavidus gilardii, is naturally occurring in soil and water. While generally harmless to healthy individuals, it can cause severe infections, including pneumonia and bloodstream infections, and in rare cases, can be fatal to those with weakened immune systems.
Officials with the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities (BOPU) stated that the bacterium was detected in wastewater discharged by Goat Systems, a contractor for Meta's 715,000-square-foot campus, which is slated to become operational next year. The contamination was first identified during routine wastewater sampling in late February but was only publicly announced last Thursday after months of investigation.
Meta has stated that its general contractor, Fortis, immediately halted industrial wastewater discharge and began hauling it offsite once the issue was shared by the board. Fortis commissioned independent testing, which has reportedly found no trace of the substance. A Meta spokesperson emphasized the company's commitment to being a "good neighbor" in Cheyenne and to protecting local water resources, pledging continued collaboration with the BOPU to resolve the situation.
Officials clarified that the incident did not contaminate the city's drinking water. However, it disrupted the municipal reclaimed water system, which supplies water for irrigating parks and public spaces, and necessitated months of cleanup.
The fill-and-flush process, used to prepare the data center's cooling system before it goes online, involves filling pipes with water, flushing out debris, and then discharging the used water into the sewer system. The water used in this process was purchased from the BOPU. The exact origin of the Cupriavidus gilardii bacterium in the wastewater remains unknown.
The situation has drawn a "very, very unpleasant surprise" from city officials, including City Councilman Pete Laybourn, who expressed concern about prior arrangements made with data center operators. The incident occurs as AI data centers nationwide face increasing scrutiny regarding their substantial demands on local water and power resources, with some facilities consuming hundreds of thousands of gallons of water daily.
Studies have documented human infections from Cupriavidus, though nearly all reported cases involved patients with pre-existing medical conditions or compromised immune systems. One documented fatality involved a child who died from sepsis after contracting the bacteria during a European vacation.