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Residents press village on data centers; managers say no blanket ban and will monitor water impacts
Summary
Residents questioned whether Carol Stream would ban AI/data centers over water and environmental concerns; Village Manager Bill Homer said there is 'no commitment to not allow anymore' but that available land is limited and the village will watch water-use impacts from a small 10-megawatt center opening this summer.
During a public Q&A, residents raised concerns about AI/data centers and potential effects on local water pressure and quality. Village officials said they will monitor impacts but have not adopted a formal ban.
Resident concern and village response: A resident asked whether the village would commit "to not allow anymore" data centers because of environmental and water worries. Village Manager Bill Homer replied plainly: "No. There is no commitment to not allow anymore." Homer added that the village likely lacks large open parcels that would attract the biggest data-center deployments.
Scale and monitoring: Homer and other staff provided context about the specific facility residents cited, describing it as a relatively small operation: about 90,000 square feet and a 10-megawatt design. Homer noted the applicant estimated water use at about 11,000,000 gallons per year. He and Mayor Savarino emphasized ongoing water-quality testing: "We test water constantly," Homer said, and Savarino noted the village draws water from Lake Michigan via the DuPage Water Commission.
Officials' approach: Village staff said they will watch how the local data center operates once it opens this summer and consider zoning or regulatory changes if warranted. They also compared the center’s projected water use with larger local industrial users, saying some food processors and car washes consume more water annually.
What residents should know: Officials did not announce regulatory changes at the briefing. They urged residents to raise specific concerns with staff and said monitoring and testing will continue as part of routine operations.
