Cheyenne Bans Data Center Water Dumping After Rare Bacteria Discovery
Cheyenne, Wyoming, has imposed a sweeping ban on water discharge from all data centers connected to municipal services after a rare, drug-resistant bacterium was traced to a Meta-affiliated facility. The Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities announced the prohibition on fill-and-flush procedures—a process where cooling systems are flooded with water before initial startup—following months of investigation.
The action stems from findings at Goat Systems LLC, a data center company linked to Meta, which was cited for "significant noncompliance" with local industrial waste rules. According to the Cowboy State Daily, the bacterium Cupriavidus gilardii was discovered in wastewater from Meta's 800,000-square-foot campus, which remains under construction. The pathogen, which is rarely found in municipal systems, was first detected during routine testing for fecal contamination.
Frank Strong, engineering and water resource division manager for the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities, told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that identifying the organism required an extensive process. "This isn't something we normally test for," he said, noting that the bacterium is an unusual find in any wastewater. Cupriavidus gilardii is a multidrug-resistant pathogen that, while extremely rare in humans, has been linked to ten deaths, including three involving immunocompromised children. A review of 32 known infections since 2009 indicates a mortality rate of 31.3 percent.
Strong emphasized that the city acted immediately once the source was identified. "As soon as we became aware of the bacteria, and then of where it was coming from, we shut them down immediately," he said. The exact origin of the pathogen within the facility remains unknown, but the wastewater from the Meta campus tested positive.
The city's sanitary sewer system routes to a water reclamation plant that supplies water for parks and public green spaces. Concerned about aerosolization during irrigation, officials temporarily suspended the reclamation program to conduct additional tests. "The concern we have with our reuse system is we put it into aerosol, where we spray it onto the grass, and that increases the potential for health issues," Strong explained.
Meta responded by stating it is cooperating with construction contractor Fortis to address the issue. A Meta spokesperson told Cowboy State that Fortis immediately halted industrial wastewater discharge and began hauling it offsite after being notified. The spokesperson also clarified that the finding was in the city's wastewater, not public drinking water.
While no human infections have been reported from this incident, the city's decisive action reflects growing public scrutiny of data centers and their environmental impact. The case highlights the need for rigorous oversight of industrial water use, especially as AI-driven facilities proliferate across the United States.
Cheyenne's ban applies to all data center campuses connected to municipal water services, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to potential health hazards. The city is now working to ensure its water reclamation system is safe before resuming irrigation, with further testing underway.
