Neighbours living near a proposed artificial intelligence data center south of Regina have expressed worries regarding the facility’s water consumption and noise levels. Recently submitted documents by an unnamed company to the Rural Municipality of Sherwood reveal plans by telecommunication giant Bell Canada to construct a campus spanning about 65 hectares of land, with the data center serving as a crucial digital infrastructure for research, provincial AI enablement, and federal/protected industries.
The project has received backing from the University of Regina and Saskatchewan Polytechnic, which foresee research and educational advantages, as indicated in accompanying letters. Despite this support, some neighboring landowners have voiced concerns and seek clarification regarding the planned project.
These concerns, particularly about water usage, are detailed in letters included in the document package submitted to the RM. Signed by “Adjacent and Area Landowners,” the letters highlight the absence of information on water sourcing and potential impacts on neighboring wells in the developer’s communication.
The nearby property owners urge the municipality to ascertain whether the project will rely on municipal water or groundwater extraction. If extraction is utilized, they request details on how it will be monitored and regulated. Some AI data centers are known to utilize significant amounts of water, although the specific water requirements for this proposed center remain unspecified, with the documents suggesting water services will be facilitated through private cisterns.
David Meyer, an assistant professor of engineering at the University of Toronto, emphasized the importance of understanding water consumption in the context of existing infrastructure. He noted that while data centers can consume substantial amounts of water, other sectors such as agriculture and urban human consumption often account for more significant water usage.
Additional concerns raised with the rural municipality by neighboring property owners encompass noise pollution, drainage issues, and the impact on road infrastructure resulting from the proposed data center. They call on the RM to enforce noise limits for the project, emphasizing that even minimal additional noise in rural settings can be disruptive for residents.
Details regarding the total size and capacity of the data center remain unclear, with references made to multiple interconnected buildings and over 300 parking spaces in the documents. The submission also mentions that a SaskPower substation will supply the necessary power for the data center, with an existing substation situated across from the designated site.
According to the documents, construction of the initial structure on the premises could commence later this year. Bell Canada has not responded to requests for comments on the matter.