Data center guzzled 30 million gallons of water, and nobody noticed for months

A QTS data center in Fayette County, Georgia was found to have used about 30 million gallons of water through two unmonitored hookups.

County officials said the company was billed retroactively, but it was not fined for the incident.

The case exposed gaps in the county’s aging water system, including limited monitoring and staffing.

It also underscores how fast-growing data centers can strain local water utilities, especially in drought-hit areas.