Action Alert! TAKE ACTION by 5:00 PM on January 16!
Large data centers are springing up across Ohio and the U.S. They can use huge amounts of freshwater – and may expel huge amounts of wastewater. The wastewater can be hot and contaminated with pollutants. Ohio is the first state to propose a general permit. If successful it will set a bad precedent or poor template for other states.
The Ohio EPA is proposing to issue a new, general permit that would allow data centers to discharge wastewater into Ohio’s rivers and streams under a “one-size-fits-all” permit with minimal oversight.
It would treat all applicable data centers the same, regardless of size, water use, cooling technology, or location and allow pollution from chemicals used in data center cooling equipment to enter streams, rivers, and drinking water sources with few limitations or monitoring requirements.
What you can do: Ohio EPA is accepting public comment until 5:00 PM on January 16, 2026. Your voice matters! Contact the Ohio EPA today and urge them NOT to issue a general permit for data center wastewater.
A sample comment and information on how to submit your comment can be found here, at the Alliance for the Great Lakes’ webpage.
Thank you for speaking out to protect waters in Ohio, an Ohio River tributary state.