{"id":138610,"date":"2025-07-15T08:45:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T12:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=138610"},"modified":"2025-07-15T18:34:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T22:34:17","slug":"nyt-their-water-taps-ran-dry-in-georgia-when-meta-built-next-door","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=138610","title":{"rendered":"(NYT) Their Water Taps Ran Dry in Georgia When Meta Built Next Door"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After Meta<\/a> broke ground on a $750 million data center on the edge of Newton County, Ga., the water taps in Beverly and Jeff Morris\u2019s home went dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The couple\u2019s house, which uses well water, is 1,000 feet from Meta\u2019s new data center. Months after construction began in 2018, the Morrises\u2019 dishwasher, ice maker, washing machine and toilet all stopped working, said Beverly Morris, now 71. Within a year, the water pressure had slowed to a trickle. Soon, nothing came out of the bathroom and kitchen taps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeff Morris, 67, eventually traced the issues to the buildup of sediment in the water. He said he suspected the cause was Meta\u2019s construction, which could have added sediment to the groundwater and affected their well. The couple replaced most of their appliances in 2019, and then again in 2021 and 2024. Residue now gathers at the bottom of their backyard pool. The taps in one of their two bathrooms still do not work….<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>

"As tech giants like Meta build data centers in the area, local wells have been damaged, the cost of municipal water has soared and the county\u2019s water commission may face a shortage of the vital resource."https:\/\/t.co\/hLr6i31S5z<\/a><\/p>— Pat_Garofalo (@Pat_Garofalo) July 14, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>