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Residents press council for transparency on data centers, water use and XAI/SpaceX projects
Summary
Multiple speakers urged the council to demand transparency from data-center operators (including XAI/SpaceX) about water use and timelines for water-reuse facilities, citing large daily withdrawals from the Memphis Sand Aquifer and community health concerns.
During the general public-comment period on Aug. 4, several residents and advocacy groups urged the Memphis City Council to press data-center operators for more transparency about water use and environmental impacts.
Rhiannon Watson, advocacy coordinator for Protect Our Aquifer, said recent permits show a $659 million building permit and that Colossus 1 had drawn about "840,520 gallons per day" from the Memphis Sand Aquifer in February 2026. She asked the council to "advocate for SpaceX AI leadership to appear publicly and provide a clear timeline for the water reuse facility, full disclosure of water use across all 4 of these facilities, and honest information about the cumulative environmental impact."
Gordon Myers warned that while one water-reuse facility was on hold, other facilities continued to draw nearly "1,000,000 gallons a day" from the public aquifer and contrasted the low rate paid by the company (quoted at "19 cents per 100 gallons") with higher rates paid by local residents. Speakers asked the council for stronger oversight, public disclosure, and a public meeting with company leadership to explain timelines and cumulative environmental effects.
