WATCH: AOC confronts EPA on water pollution near Meta data centers

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:00]Assistant Administrator Creamer, you are in charge of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water, correct?

[00:00:07]>> Correct. Um, and in your written testimony, you communicated a value that I think we all appreciate, which is that a top priority for EPA is ensuring continued drinking water safety, right?

[00:00:23]>> Correct.

[00:00:23]>> And this is a a bedrock foundational value of the EPA, and it's one of the big reasons why it exists. Um, I you know, I I I and I also appreciate your commitment uh to clean water specifically. In fact, you said it very well on a Maha action call just last month that quote, "When I turn the tap on and when every American turns the tap on, there should be confidence in what's in your drinking water." And I think that's a value that we all share.

[00:00:54]Um, I wanted to ask you uh while I have you here, if you've been receiving complaints or if you are aware of folks reaching out about data center construction impact on drinking water quality.

[00:01:11]I am aware.

[00:01:12]You're aware. And what are some of the things that you're seeing and hearing?

[00:01:16]So, uh one of I think the biggest concerns uh is related to water availability, which is why we recently relaunched the Water Use Reuse Action Plan 2.0 to focus on ensuring that um whether it's it's data centers or >> Anything about water quality though?

[00:01:34]Um, I'm not aware of that.

[00:01:36]>> Okay. Did do are there any complaint I mean, are you observing any negative impacts on uh data center construction on water quality for Americans? I don't think anything like that's been raised to my attention.

[00:01:49]>> Okay. Um, I I would like to do so. A few weeks ago uh while Congress was in recess, I visited Morgan County, Georgia, where Meta is building a massive data center campus. They are clear-cutting forests and began having construction, including explosive blasting, and families in the area are starting to see not only their water pressure decrease, to your point about water availability, um but their appliances are all stop have all stopped working because it is decimating their water quality.

[00:02:26]They now rely on bottled water to drink and prepare meals, and nearby residents' water bills are expected to increase by 33%. In fact, um I have a jar right here.

[00:02:39]This is the current drinking water in Morgan County, Georgia, uh right after a data center was constructed the Meta data center was constructed. The only difference between the clean water and this was that data center.

[00:02:58]I have another one as well. So, this wasn't just one well, this wasn't just one family's um situation. This is what the drinking water now looks like next to that data center. And I think both of us can agree that neither one of these things are drinkable. These families now have to ship, in a rural area, have to ship water to their house in order to cook and and bathe themselves.

[00:03:26]Um now I'm curious if the EPA plans any investigations on how data centers are affecting water quality and availability. I understand what you said about the rule, but are there going to be any open investigations on this issue? So, as soon as I get back to the office, I will I will be looking into exactly what you've just talked about because anywhere, um whether it is whether whatever type of construction what is, it is a priority to ensure that water quality standards established by EPA um are being met. And so, we'll be looking into that certainly. Thank you.

[00:03:58]I I sincerely appreciate that because I think this is of utmost importance and we're seeing this happening across the country. I'd also like to ask about the administration's push to build more data centers by fast-tracking construction. Um because the administration's been issuing executive orders to fast-track data center construction when we know that water quality is encountering major issues. Um are there any mandates for data centers to do water quality testing prior to construction?

[00:04:38]Of of like coming from a public water supply drinking water supply sampling.

[00:04:44]Wells, yeah. I'm not aware of anything like that. However, it doesn't mean it I'm just not aware of it. Might exist, but I'm not >> Um you know, I I think it's important that uh you know, you as an agency official, we have to make sure we're doing these investigations. And then us on a congressional level, I'd like to note that I think it's of utmost importance that we also launch congressional investigations into this matter as well so that we can partner with the EPA and ensure that the drinking water for this country continues to be safe and accessible for the American people. So, thank you, administrator. Thank you.