1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

Dear Representative, I am writing as a constituent to raise urgent concerns about the environmental and public health impacts associated with the rapid expansion of large-scale data centers in residential and rural communities. While data centers are often portrayed as low-impact facilities, their real-world footprint tells a different story—one that includes land degradation, water contamination risks, air and noise pollution, and growing threats to residents’ health and quality of life. Specifically: • **Land disruption and soil impacts:** Data center construction requires extensive land clearing, grading, and soil compaction. These changes permanently alter drainage patterns, increase runoff, and reduce the land’s ability to naturally filter pollutants—effects that persist long after construction ends. • **Water resource depletion and contamination:** Data centers are significant water consumers, often drawing from local aquifers and municipal supplies already under stress. Of particular concern is the increased risk of **nitrate contamination** in surrounding groundwater, especially in agricultural or mixed-use areas where disturbed soils, construction runoff, and altered hydrology can accelerate nitrate migration into wells. Elevated nitrate levels pose well-documented risks to human health, especially for infants, pregnant individuals, and those with chronic conditions. • **Noise pollution:** Continuous operation of cooling systems, backup generators, and industrial HVAC equipment produces persistent low-frequency noise. Unlike intermittent industrial activity, data center noise is constant, degrading sleep quality, increasing stress, and reducing property livability for nearby residents. • **Air pollution:** Backup diesel generators, construction equipment, and increased heavy truck traffic contribute to localized air pollution, including fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. These pollutants are linked to respiratory illness, cardiovascular strain, and increased health risks for vulnerable populations. • **Human health and quality of life:** The combined effects of noise, air pollution, water quality risks, and environmental degradation create a cumulative health burden for surrounding communities. Yet these impacts are rarely evaluated holistically or over the long term during permitting and approval processes. Despite these realities, environmental reviews for data centers are frequently rushed, segmented, or minimized, preventing meaningful assessment of cumulative and downstream impacts. Residents are left with diminished land value, compromised water quality, and ongoing health concerns—without adequate disclosure, mitigation, or recourse. I urge you to support policies that: 1. Require comprehensive environmental and public health impact assessments for data centers. 2. Mandate monitoring and disclosure of water use and groundwater quality, including nitrate levels. 3. Establish enforceable noise and air quality standards specific to continuous industrial operations. 4. Ensure meaningful community input before approvals are granted. 5. Hold developers financially responsible for long-term environmental and health impacts. Economic development must not come at the expense of public health, environmental integrity, and the basic right of residents to safe water, clean air, and livable communities.