Neighbours living near a proposed artificial intelligence data center south of Regina are expressing worries regarding the facility’s water consumption and potential noise disturbances. According to recent filings by an unnamed company with the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, telecommunications giant Bell Canada intends to establish a campus spanning around 65 hectares of land, housing a data center critical for research, provincial AI advancement, and federal industries.
The University of Regina and Saskatchewan Polytechnic have shown support for the project, citing anticipated research and educational advantages in accompanying letters. Nonetheless, nearby landowners have also voiced concerns and are seeking clarification about the planned development.
These concerns, particularly regarding water usage, are detailed in letters included in the documentation submitted to the RM. The letters, signed by “Adjacent and Area Landowners,” emphasize the lack of information on water sourcing and management of potential impacts on neighboring wells.
The landowners are urging the municipality to ascertain whether the project will rely on municipal water or groundwater extraction, and if the latter is the case, how it will be monitored and regulated. While the exact water requirements for the proposed center remain unspecified, the documents suggest that water services will be facilitated through private cisterns.
David Meyer, an assistant engineering professor at the University of Toronto, highlighted the significance of understanding water consumption in data centers, given their concentrated usage. He mentioned that data centers, such as the one proposed, can strain local resources depending on their water source connections.
The concerns raised by neighboring landowners also encompass issues like noise pollution, drainage, and the impact on road infrastructure. They are advocating for noise regulations to be enforced to mitigate any disturbances to the surrounding rural community.
The full scale and capabilities of the data center are yet to be fully disclosed, although references in the documents allude to multiple interconnected buildings and mention over “300” parking spaces. Power for the data center will be supplied by a SaskPower substation, with an existing facility located near the designated site.
Initial construction activities for the first building on the site are projected to commence later this year, as indicated in the submitted documents. Bell Canada has not responded to requests for comments on the matter.