Their water taps ran dry when Meta built next door

In the race to develop artificial intelligence, tech giants are building data centers that guzzle up water.

That has led to problems for people who live nearby.

After Meta broke ground on a $750 million data center on the edge of Newton County, Ga., the water taps in Beverly and Jeff Morris’s home went dry.

The couple’s house, which uses well water, is 1,000 feet from Meta’s new data center.

Months after construction began in 2018, the Morrises’ dishwasher, ice maker, washing machine and toilet all stopped working, said Beverly Morris, now 71.

Within a year, the water pressure had slowed to a trickle. Soon, nothing came out of the bathroom and kitchen taps.