River watchdog weighs in on proposed Columbus data center. Water Works answers to council

The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK) delivered a 10-page letter to Columbus Council ahead of a vote on a proposed technology overlay district ordinance for data centers, raising concerns about water usage and environmental risks. CRK’s letter acknowledged the draft’s ban on open-loop cooling but criticized its lack of detail on water infrastructure costs, groundwater limits, and evolving cooling technologies. The organization warned that up to 100,000 gallons of water per day could be withdrawn by industrial users without local restrictions, citing Georgia’s current Level 1 drought as a risk factor. Columbus Water Works president Jeremy Cummings argued that Project Ruby, a proposed 865-acre data center in northeast Muscogee County, would require only 330,000 gallons of water daily—far below the city’s 90 million-gallon permit capacity. He stated the developer would cover $30 million in infrastructure costs and pay standard business rates, dismissing potential drought-related shortages. Councilor Toyia Tucker questioned water controls during the drought, but Cummings insisted shutdowns were unlikely. CRK’s letter highlighted uncertainties around wastewater from new cooling methods, including toxic ethylene glycol or PFAS-containing fluids, which may not be safely treatable by municipal systems. The group urged clearer regulations on chemical use and disposal. Georgia’s drought declaration adds pressure, as CRK noted permit capacity depends on river water availability, while Cummings ranked Project Ruby as the fourth-largest water user in the region by 2033, behind Fort Benning, Harris County, and the Columbus Consolidated Government.