Cheyenne Water System Bacteria Issue: Data Center Impact

Incident Overview

A rare bacterium, Cupriavidus gilardii, entered Cheyenne’s reclaimed-water system through an industrial discharge. The city took the reuse-water infrastructure offline approximately four months before the June 2026 updates. In response, officials immediately suspended the reclaimed-water irrigation program and halted all data-center discharges to contain the contamination.

Source Identification

Investigators from the Board of Public Utilities (BOPU) traced the bacteria to a contractor working on Meta’s Cheyenne data center. The discharge was confirmed to originate at the construction site, prompting the permanent revocation of Meta’s discharge privileges and highlighting the need for stricter oversight of industrial wastewater sources.

City Actions and Remediation

BOPU responded by draining and disinfecting the affected reuse-water infrastructure. The city also introduced new regulations banning future industrial wastewater discharges from data centers. Officials expect the reclaimed-water program to resume operations by the end of June 2026 once remediation and safety testing are complete.

Broader Implications

The incident mirrors similar water-quality concerns reported near data centers in Georgia, where nearby wells turned brown. Residents in Cheyenne continue to seek transparency four months after the event, underscoring vulnerabilities in municipal systems when large-scale tech construction projects interact with local infrastructure.

FAQ

What caused the bacteria in Cheyenne’s water system? A contractor at Meta’s data center introduced Cupriavidus gilardii into the city’s reclaimed-water network.

Is Cheyenne’s drinking water affected? No—the contamination impacted the reuse-water irrigation system, not potable supplies.

When will the reclaimed-water system reopen? BOPU expects operations to resume by the end of June 2026 after remediation is complete.

What new rules apply to data centers? Cheyenne now prohibits data-center wastewater discharges and has permanently ended Meta’s discharge rights.

Are other cities seeing similar problems? Reports from Georgia indicate nearby wells turned brown after a data-center facility began operations, suggesting a wider pattern.

How can residents stay informed? Follow updates from the Board of Public Utilities (BOPU) and local news outlets for official announcements and testing results.

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