Meta data center construction wastewater contaminated Cheyenne water system with rare bacteria

Cheyenne, Wyoming, has confirmed that wastewater generated during the construction of a Meta data center contaminated the city's recycled water system with a rare bacteria, halting its operation for months. The Board of Public Utilities (BOPU) announced on July 2 that investigations concluded construction contractor Goat Systems LLC was the source of the industrial wastewater discharge.

The city has suspended the acceptance of all industrial wastewater related to the data center's cooling systems, including fill-and-flush operations. BOPU's investigation detected Cupriavidus gilardii, a bacteria not typically monitored in water quality tests. This metal-resistant bacteria disrupted the functioning of two water reclamation facilities, leading to the shutdown of the recycled water system for several months.

The bacteria was first discovered in February 2026 during routine fecal bacteria testing, which prompted the extensive investigation. The wastewater is believed to have originated from the fill-and-flush process during the commissioning of the data center's cooling systems. Goat Systems' permit for discharging industrial wastewater was revoked in March, and the city has paused all such industrial wastewater intake.

Meta stated that it is cooperating with its general contractor, Fortis, to address the situation, noting that independent environmental tests commissioned by Fortis did not detect the same contaminants. The data center project in Cheyenne represents one of the largest private investments in the area, valued at approximately $800 million. While the recycled water system has since been restored, questions regarding future wastewater regulation and potential long-term impacts remain.