Complaints about low water pressure near one of Georgia’s largest data centers prompted officials in a metro Atlanta county to investigate — and initially accuse the facility of using unauthorized water lines and owing $147,000.
The QTS data center, located on a 600-acre campus in Fayetteville about 22 miles south of downtown Atlanta, came under scrutiny after a nearby resident reported pressure issues ove a year ago.
Recent reports indicate concerns over water usage, with the facility allegedly consuming 30 million gallons of unbilled water during a drought.
In response, the county’s water system director issued an internal letter stating that two additional water lines had been installed “without the knowledge or inspection” of county staff.
However, Fayette County has since backed away from those claims. In a public statement, officials said the earlier letter was unclear and led to misunderstandings about QTS’s permitted water usage. The county now attributes the issue to a transition to new “smart meter” technology, which resulted in some of the facility’s meters not being properly integrated into the updated billing system.
On May 13, Fayette County officials announced facts to “correct some misinformation about the QTS Fayetteville Data Center campus project”:
“Our letter on May 15, 2025, was unclear, which caused misunderstandings about how much water QTS is allowed to use and expectations for the project. The purpose of the letter was to explain the construction activities, administrative billing issues, and the higher construction water rate.
“The Fayette County Water System started upgrading all 33,000 customer meters to smart meters, known as Advanced Metering Infrastructure, to improve meter reading accuracy, detect leaks, and enhance customer service. While switching to the new system, it was discovered that some meters were still connected to the old system and not linked to the new digital system for billing or usage tracking.
“Once this problem was found, QTS and Fayette County Water quickly worked together to resolve the billing and meter tracking issues. QTS was immediately billed at the $6.46 per 1,000 gallons construction rate, which is double the normal retail rate for past water use, and QTS promptly paid this bill.
“Now, all meters are fully connected to the new system, ensuring accurate tracking and billing of water use as part of our regular processes.
“QTS’s water usage is typical for a project of this size. Over the past year, QTS monthly usage is less than one percent of Fayette County Water’s current production and permitted capacity.
Fayette County Water is allowed to produce 22,800,000 gallons per day and currently produces about 17,300,000 gallons per day.
“This project does not affect residential water pressure, and there are no wells in the Fayette County Water System.
“We understand that water is a valuable community resource. To ensure responsible use and maintain open communication, our teams meet monthly. These meetings help us stay coordinated, address concerns quickly, and work together for sustainable water management.
An Atlanta News First Investigates analysis of county billing records showed QTS has used the equivalent of nearly 5,500 backyard pools since its first meter came online in February 2024.
