Kansas City, MO, August 13, 2025
Meta Platforms Inc.
Meta Platforms Inc., formerly known as Facebook, Inc., is a leading technology company founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and his college roommates. Originally launched as a social networking platform, Meta quickly expanded its services to include a variety of social media applications, virtual reality products, and technological innovations. Over the years, the company rebranded to Meta in 2021 to reflect its strategic focus on building the Metaverse and advancing immersive digital experiences. Today, Meta is one of the world’s largest tech giants, with a global user base and significant investments in infrastructure, including data centers like those in Kansas City, to support its expansive digital ecosystem.
News Summary
Kansas City is grappling with significant worries over water consumption from new data centers, particularly as Meta plans to utilize up to 9.5 million gallons daily. Major tech expansions are raising alarms about water resources, prompting officials to carefully consider the infrastructure demands while balancing economic growth with community needs.
Kansas City is facing growing concerns over the significant water consumption and infrastructure demands posed by new data center projects in the region. As major tech companies like Meta and Google expand their data center operations, the implications for local water resources are raising alarms among residents and officials alike. Meta’s facility in Northland is expected to draw as much as 9.5 million gallons of water every day, a figure that starkly contrasts with the average usage of just under 100 gallons per day for a typical household in Kansas City.
Data centers play a crucial role in modern technology, housing tens of thousands of servers that handle vast amounts of data processing. However, these operations often require extensive cooling systems that consume large quantities of water. In fact, the water usage forecast for Meta’s facility equates to doing approximately 400,000 loads of laundry or filling 14 Olympic-sized swimming pools each day.
Kansas City’s overall water capacity stands at 240 million gallons daily. The city recorded its highest water usage in 2023 at 150 million gallons, leaving room for concern as new projects commence. David Poirier, the manager of KC Water, has assured that the city is committed to approving projects only if it can ensure adequate water supplies for them.
The financial burden for upgrading infrastructure to support massive water needs falls on the developers of these data centers. Google is expected to begin its water service in just three weeks, although the specifics of their water usage remain confidential. In total, Kansas City’s Northland area is poised to welcome four large-scale data centers in the near future. Officials from KC Water Department are tasked with meticulously reviewing each project to prevent negative impacts on current water customers.
A new multibillion-dollar project called Project Mica aims to construct a sophisticated data center complex spanning 500 acres in Clay County, potentially utilizing up to $10 billion in bonds linked to Google. This project will feature 1.56 million square feet of “hyperscale” data center infrastructure and has garnered preliminary endorsement from the Port Authority of Kansas City’s development committee, alongside discussions about property tax incentives.
Meanwhile, a separate proposal for a $12.6 billion data center, possibly affiliated with a major tech firm, is also in the works in Kansas City, Kansas. This venture involves rezoning 548 acres of residential land for commercial use, which could result in $12.9 million in annual property tax revenues in stark contrast to the existing revenue of $43,000 from the land.
Despite potential economic benefits, local dissent is brewing. Many community members express concerns about the implications of industrial development encroaching on agricultural areas and their residential neighborhoods. They emphasize the need to balance growth and development with the necessity of preserving local resources.
Conclusion
The development of data centers in Kansas City underscores a pivotal challenge where technological growth meets community water resource management. As local officials evaluate each project, the need to ensure sustainability and capacity without negatively impacting residents remains a priority.
FAQ
What are the main concerns regarding data centers in Kansas City?
The primary concerns are regarding the significant water consumption required by data centers and the impact on local infrastructure capacity. Data centers like Meta’s facility are projected to use vast amounts of water, which raises alarms about sustainability and resource management.
How much water does a typical data center use?
Meta’s data center in Northland is expected to use up to 9.5 million gallons of water daily, which is equivalent to doing about 400,000 loads of laundry or filling approximately 14 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
What measures are officials taking to manage these projects?
Kansas City officials, led by the KC Water Department, review each data center project to ensure that adequate water resources are available. David Poirier assured that the city would only approve projects that can be supported without impacting existing water customers.
What are the expected economic impacts of these developments?
While data centers can potentially bring significant economic benefits, such as increased property tax revenues, concerns have arisen regarding the encroachment on agricultural land and the impact on neighboring residential areas.
Key Features Summary
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Daily Water Usage (Meta) | Up to 9.5 million gallons |
| Average Household Water Usage | Under 100 gallons |
| Kansas City’s Water Capacity | 240 million gallons daily |
| Highest Daily Water Usage (2023) | 150 million gallons |
| Project Mica Cost | Up to $10 billion |
| Proposed Development (Kansas City, KS) | $12.6 billion |
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Additional Resources
- KSHB: Kansas City Data Centers
- Wikipedia: Data Center
- Kansas City Star: Local Article
- Google Search: Kansas City data centers water usage
- Fox 4 KC: KCK Planning Commission
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Data Center
- Kansas Reflector: 12.6B Data Center
- Google News: Kansas City data centers
- KSHB: Kansas City Missouri Plans
- Google Scholar: Data centers water usage
Author: STAFF HERE KANSAS CITY WRITER
The KANSAS CITY STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKansasCity.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Kansas City, Jackson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as American Royal World Series of Barbecue, Dia De Los Muertos, and Planet Anime Kansas City. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Greater Kansas City, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and entertainment that power the local economy such as Children's Mercy Hospital, Government Employees Health Association, and AMC Entertainment. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREStLouis.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Missouri's dynamic landscape.
