ATLANTA — Atlanta City Council members are considering new requirements for data centers located within the city and those served by Atlanta’s municipal water system.
The proposed regulation would require data centers served by the city’s water system to transition to closed-loop water-cooling systems.
District 12 Councilmember Antonio Lewis brought the ordinance before the Atlanta City Council.
“Establishing requirements for new and existing data centers, directing the department of watershed management to incorporate such requirements into permits,” Lewis said.
The ordinance would also prohibit the use of drinking water for routine data center cooling operations.
As council members consider the proposal, Atlanta resident Kayann Paris says she would prefer a moratorium on data centers.
“I’m supportive of a data center task force to ensure transparency, but I would prefer an outright ban in the city of Atlanta,” Paris said.
The proposed requirements will now be considered by the city utilities committee.