Current Rules vs. Proposed Shift
Data centers currently pretreat wastewater to meet municipal standards before sending it to treatment plants. The draft permit, numbered OHD000001, would let eligible facilities bypass this for direct discharge into state waters, aiming to standardize rules amid Ohio’s 217+ data centers and dozens more planned.
OEPA justifies the change as necessary for “important social and economic development,” explicitly acknowledging a potential “lowering of water quality” under state antidegradation rules. Agency staff emphasize compliance with water quality standards and uniform expectations for developers.
Key Criticisms from Groups and Lawmakers
Environmental organizations like Save Ohio Parks and the Ohio River Foundation decry the “one-size-fits-all” approach, unfit for data centers varying in size, design, location, and pollutants. They highlight absent limits on PFAS “forever chemicals,” heavy metals, thermal pollution, and nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus that fuel algal blooms.
State Rep. Munira Abdullahi (D-Columbus) urged denial, citing health risks from contaminants like PFAS linked to cancer. Public hearings drew dozens voicing fears of concentrated pollutants from evaporative cooling, higher treatment costs, and inadequate oversight.
Public Input and Next Steps
Comments poured in at December 2025 hearings, with the online deadline extended to January 16, 2026. Critics demand site-specific permits for transparency and alternatives analysis, while OEPA defends grouping similar low-impact discharges. As Ohio balances tech growth against water protection, the permit’s fate remains undecided.
