The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is considering a general wastewater permit, which would allow a streamlined process for data centers to receive authorization to discharge wastewater into surface waters.
Data centers in Ohio can currently only apply for an individualized National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. That permit requires data centers to follow Ohio’s antidegradation rule, ensuring no pollution that could harm fish or wildlife be released, safer streams for recreation and that drinking water sources are protected.
Unlike the current permit, which requires individual review of each data center, the general wastewater permit would provide a universal and more streamlined process for data centers to obtain the ability to dispose of wastewater.
Randi Pokladnik has a Ph.D. in environmental studies and has been outspoken about the dangers of data centers.
“I'd say they're trying to fast-track it…If you do individual permitting, then it's going to take longer, because each data center would be like a new entity,” Pokladnik said. “You would have to look at that specific data center and its processes and what it uses…when you have a general permit, you don't have to do that. It's just like when one set of rules fits every single data center, regardless of size, processes or where it's located.”
The Ohio EPA could not accommodate an interview with The Post but provided a fact sheet explaining the permit and its reasoning.
“The proposed general permit would offer consistency and efficiency while maintaining Ohio’s water quality protection…both permitting processes are fully protective of water quality, ensuring all discharges protect rivers, lakes, streams and public health,” the fact sheet stated.
Data centers have become more present in Ohio. According to the Data Center Map, Ohio currently has 201 data center facilities, the fifth most of any state in the country.
While the vast majority of facilities are located in Central Ohio, there are data centers spanning most regions of the state. The only data centers in Southeast Ohio currently are located in Lawrence County and Monroe County.
The prevalence of data centers in the state has raised concerns from environmental advocates, most notably for their high usage of water, with large centers sometimes using up to 5 million gallons per day, according to a report from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute.
Pokladnik discussed the possibilities of data center water being exposed to copper, zinc and lead due to corrosion of pipes over time. Additionally, she said because the water will be heated, there could be growth of algae, biocides, nitrates and phosphates, depending on how often pipes are cleaned.
Pokladnik’s main concern, however, is the potential exposure to PFAS, or forever chemicals.
“It's not something that they add intentionally,” Pokladnik said. “It's just part of the materials in the data center, but over time, that also, just like the pipes, breaks down and so they're going to get residual amounts of that PFAS, and it's so dangerous, you don't want to be exposed to any of it.”
PFAS chemicals are synthetic compounds used in consumer products around the world, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. They are highly persistent and have been found to contribute to altered metabolism and body weight regulation, risk of childhood obesity, increased risk of some cancers and reduced ability of the immune system to fight infection.
According to the Ohio EPA fact sheet, the proposed permit would allow data centers to discharge certain types of wastewaters and stormwaters. The only types of wastewaters allowed are non-contact cooling water and small amounts of wastewater from cooling towers or boilers. The types of stormwaters included are runoff from generators, storage tanks, equipment and loading and service areas.
“We have to be more protective of our water,” said Lea Harper, the managing director of the Freshwater Accountability Project. “Because these same streams that are taking wastewater discharges are also needed for other industries like agriculture and for drinking water…if they're going to use PFAS, they can't have a general permit because we have to do something about forever chemical contamination in our water that's already in exceedance. Why make it worse?”
The Ohio EPA accepted public comments regarding the permit until Jan. 16 and is now reviewing what they received. The organization has not yet issued a formal decision on the permit.
