The contamination of a Cheyenne water system by a Meta data center underscores the worries residents have about more than two-dozen data centers that are and could be consuming Wyoming’s energy, water and landscape. Water officials announced in June that they had traced an unusual and dangerous bacterium called Cupriavidus gilardii, which can sicken people, to an industrial user first identified by the Wyoming Tribune Eagle as a contractor for a Meta data center. Pinpointing the source of contamination came months after the discovery of the bacterium in late February. … As Wyoming communities grapple with a surge of rural zoning changes to enable construction of data center computer warehouses and offices, the pollution raises questions about developers’ and tech companies’ assurances.

Other data center water use news:

• Imperial Valley Press (El Centro, Calif.): Imperial County moves to seat data center panel while weighing moratorium extension
• Nevada Current: Boulder City Council seeks to stop data center on BLM land
• Las Vegas Review-Journal: ‘Absolutely out of line’: Boulder City erupts after surprise data center approval
• The Nevada Independent: Expletives, fear and anger: A data center fight turns nasty in Boulder City
• Politico: California’s data center dance