<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4L5UuJ_1GnppqST00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4L5UuJ_1GnppqST00" width="1320" height="990" ><figcaption>Foundation work begins on the first building of the Grayslake T5 Data Center campus. (Photos by Gregory Harutunian/For Chronicle Media)</figcaption></figure>The Grayslake T5 Data Center is under construction, as work crews clear land and lay foundation settings for the first building on the campus.The necessary permits were issued Sept. 1, by the various governmental agencies that approved the project. Atlanta-based T5, Inc. and Grayslake are expecting the estimated 470-acre parcel to be built out within seven to 10 years, based on leasing demands. The property was rezoned and can accommodate 20 buildings.Data centers have raised concerns nationwide over electric and water resources being diverted from other commercial and residential uses. The Grayslake project has drawn ire for an alleged lack of public transparency which generated a civil lawsuit by a coalition seeking an injunction.The village has responded and refuses to comment on the litigation, as it remains ongoing.Data centers train artificial intelligence models for use in business and personal applications. Concerns over water consumption, which is used by the data center to cool the circuitry chips, has been cited by environmental groups.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0Ot3TL_1GnppqST00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Ot3TL_1GnppqST00" width="1320" height="990" ><figcaption>A lawn placard opposes the data center. Signs have been appearing on residential lawns and commercial properties for several months.</figcaption></figure>There is a water tower in the Cornerstone Industrial Park completed in 2023, filled by Lake Michigan water through the village’s agreement with the Lake County Joint Action Water Agency. Zack Smith, Grayslake’s associate village manager, had said that the water tower has a capacity of 1 million gallons.“Like every other customer, the water for the data center will come from the village’s water system which comes from Lake Michigan, and not local aquifers,” Smith said. “The water tower is designed for the entire area as a water reserve and is not required for the daily use of area customers.”Smith also noted the water usage by a data center building is not prohibitive.“The village has estimated that an average-sized building will use an average of approximately 2,500 to 3,500 gallons per day. This is less water use per day than typical non-residential development, such as a car wash,” he said. “Additionally, the North Shore Water Reclamation District handles the sewer water.”At a median use of 3,000 gallons per day, one building would use an estimated 1.09 million gallons annually. With the potential of 20 buildings being added within a decade, the effluent water could place a strain on NSWRD capacities.Grayslake has no water treatment plant and relies on the county facility for its water treatment.The nearest other facility is the Northwest Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant on Fox Lake.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0BPdDU_1GnppqST00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0BPdDU_1GnppqST00" width="1320" height="990" ><figcaption>A rabbit is aware of the activity nearby as the first building of the Grayslake T5 Data Center is constructed. The development will encompass 420 acres in the Cornerstone Industrial area.</figcaption></figure>“We don’t reserve capacity and that district position has never changed,” said Dave Miller, the NSWRD’s director. “We serve 17 different communities and municipalities. We never reserve future capacities, but at the current time … we have capacity and will look at it.”“There are multiple levels of review for these developments,” Miller said. “There is the village, the county, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency … you have tributaries and sewers lines, plus connection fees. This all has to be filed and reviewed before the NSWRD would issue the permits.”The Lake County Board passed a motion that stipulates a moratorium of eight months, with a possible four-month extension, to review the impact of data centers. The action only covers unincorporated locations, not crossing into municipal boundaries.The purpose was to allow board members an opportunity to review and propose guideline legislation, although it will not halt construction of any county data centers.Grayslake has reinstated and updated its FAQ sheet on its website, www.villageofgrayslake.com/881/Approved-T5-Data-Center-Campus-Informati.“The latest plans expect 6,750,000 square feet of building space across 11 different buildings,” said Nate Smith, the village’s management analyst. “At this point, and subject to change, the total building space is expected to be 33 percent less than previous plans.”</div></body>

Block Source: chronicleillinois.com

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

The Grayslake T5 Data Center is under construction, as work crews clear land and lay foundation settings for the first building on the campus. The necessary permits were issued Sept. 1, by the various governmental agencies that approved the project. Atlanta-based T5, Inc. and Grayslake are expecting the estimated 470-acre parcel to be built out within seven to 10 years, based on leasing demands. The property was rezoned and can accommodate 20 buildings.

Grayslake data center may pose future water treatment issues

NewsBreak

The Grayslake T5 Data Center is under construction, as work crews clear land and lay foundation settings for the first building on the campus. The necessar

Grayslake data center may pose future water treatment issues

Comments / 2