In Cheyenne, Wyoming, a data center currently under construction has been identified as the source of a rare bacterial contamination within the city's recycled water network. According to the Board of Public Utilities, a Meta contractor introduced the bacterium Cupriavidus gilardii during a "fill-and-flush" process, a procedure used to clear debris from the facility's closed-loop cooling pipes.
While officials assured the public that drinking water remains safe, the pollutant compromised the city's reuse system, which strictly supplies irrigation for green spaces. Lab workers initially detected the pathogen in February, prompting the board to classify the incident as "significant noncompliance" and revoke the contractor's discharge privileges by late March.
Read more at Business Insider.
Wichita Approves Wastewater Recycling Pilot
Wichita, Kansas, city leaders recently greenlit a pilot program to turn treated wastewater into drinkable tap water, advancing a Water Reuse Master Plan adopted last year. Currently, the local public works department discharges its treated wastewater into a nearby river.
The push for a more resilient infrastructure follows years of severe statewide drought, which recently brought Wichita to the brink of stage-three outdoor watering bans. If the pilot succeeds, Wichita will become a pioneering model for wastewater recycling in the region.
EPA Seeks Comments on Draft Guidance to Reduce Risk from PFOA and PFOS in Biosolids
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is releasing draft guidance to help wastewater utilities, landowners, and the public reduce risk from PFOA and PFOS in biosolids. The EPA will solicit comments on the draft guidance for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register.
Once the notice is published, comments can be submitted using Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2026-2509. The notice will contain additional information on how to submit a comment.
Read more at the U.S. EPA.
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