When officials in Wyoming conducted a routine test on the water that was being discharged from a massive under-construction Meta datacenter, it was a shock to find it contained a rare and potentially hazardous bacterium.
While the wastewater flushed into sewers in Cheyenne, Wyoming, was never destined for the public drinking supply, the presence of Cupriavidus gilardii bacterium in 801,000 gallons of water ejected by a contractor for the datacenter earlier this year was still unnerving.
Concerned that residents could be exposed to the bacteria if they inhaled evaporating droplets of the water used for irrigation, Cheyenne officials took until July before deciding to stop taking wastewater from Meta’s contractor, Goat Systems – a decision that is now being appealed.
Just last month I was trying to question a board of supervisors member on this very thing. I used to like the guy but he gave a long-winded pretty story about how the water will be cleaned and filtered to the highest standards. Yes that could be done, but he couldn’t tell me exactly in the county was going to ensure it WAS done.
Same deal with fracking. The proponents can make the procedures sound good but without unbiased monitoring that they actually do what they promise it doesn’t mean jack squat after the groundwater is already polluted.
Was there any kind of natural or artificial intelligence in the bacteries?
Here’s an idea, invest that money in schools and conservation…oh fuck, i’m being shot by a drone. I fucking wish this was snark
When officials in Wyoming conducted a routine test on the water that was being discharged from a massive under-construction Meta datacenter, it was a shock to find it contained a rare and potentially hazardous bacterium.
A shock, I tell you! SHOCK! Well, not that much of a shock. Kinda expected, honestly.
I’m gonna say no it wasn’t expected. I’d expect toxic chemicals, heavy metals etc. I would expect a data center to discharge water that is unsafe and damaging, they are after all being run by Captain Planet villains…but bacteria? I wouldn’t have called that one.
It’s truly horrible that dangerous bacteria were found in sewage water. Can we not trust any source of previously safe water these days?
If no one tests it, it can’t be bad.
