“Save The Campbell” proposes co-location of a data center with the Campbell to be owned by a locally controlled electric cooperative both to resolve a number of Campbell’s environmental issues plus as a way to reduce residential electric rates of most Ottawa County residents. One environmental benefit is using the waste water in the cooling system of the co-located data center, rather than deep underground injection as proposed by Consumers Energy. Before the waste water could be used in such a cooling system, it would have to be properly treated. The cost to treat it is comparable or even less than the cost of deep underground injection, and far more environmentally sound.
Per ChatGPT:
The likely cost to treat wastewater from the Consumers Energy J.H. Campbell Generating Complex so it could be used as cooling tower makeup water for a data center is approximately:
$10 million to $50 million in upfront capital cost, plus
$0.50 to $3.00 per 1,000 gallons in operating cost.
A realistic mid-range estimate is $20–30 million of capital cost and $1–2 per 1,000 gallons to operate, depending on how much water is needed and the final water quality requirements.
Why Additional Treatment Would Be Needed
Campbell’s wastewater (including landfill leachate, groundwater, and other non-hazardous industrial streams) can contain:
- Dissolved salts (high TDS)
- Sulfates and chlorides
- Silica
- Trace metals (boron, selenium, arsenic)
- Organic compounds
Data center cooling systems require water that minimizes:
- Scale formation
- Corrosion
- Biological growth
- Fouling of heat exchangers and cooling towers
Many data centers use reclaimed municipal wastewater after advanced treatment to meet these standards.
Likely Treatment Process
The treatment train would likely include:
- Equalization and pH adjustment
- Clarification or precipitation for metals
- Media filtration
- Ultrafiltration
- Reverse osmosis (RO)
- Optional ion exchange or polishing
- Disinfection and chemical conditioning
Reverse osmosis is typically the most expensive component.
Estimated Capital Cost by Capacity
Small Data Center (0.5–1 million gallons/day)
- $10–20 million
Medium to Large Data Center (2–5 million gallons/day)
- $20–50 million
Hyperscale Facility (5+ million gallons/day)
- $40–100 million+
For context, a vendor example cited a 5-MW data center treating about 50 million gallons per year (~0.14 MGD) at roughly $1.85 million, but Campbell wastewater would likely require more robust treatment because landfill leachate and industrial groundwater are more challenging than typical reclaimed water.
Operating Cost
Typical operating costs include electricity, membrane replacement, chemicals, and labor.
| Water Quality Challenge | Typical O&M Cost |
| Moderate treatment | $0.50–1.50 per 1,000 gallons |
| High-salinity / leachate-impacted water | $1.50–3.00+ per 1,000 gallons |
At 2 million gallons/day, operating costs could be approximately $0.7–2.2 million per year.
Comparison to Deep Well Injection
If Consumers Energy instead injects wastewater underground, estimated capital costs are roughly $35–45 million with ongoing monitoring and pumping costs. Reuse for data center cooling could be economically competitive if:
- A data center developer is nearby,
- The treated water can be sold under a long-term contract, and
- Freshwater costs or permitting constraints favor reuse.
Potential Revenue Opportunity
Suppose a data center purchases 2 million gallons/day at $1.50 per 1,000 gallons:
- Annual sales ≈ $1.1 million
Larger water demand or higher pricing could increase revenue, partially offsetting treatment costs.
Most Likely Scenario for Campbell
Given the quality of Campbell wastewater and the treatment likely required, a practical estimate is:
- Capital cost: $20–30 million
- Annual operating cost: $1–3 million
- Potential annual water revenue: $1–5 million, depending on volume and contract terms
Bottom Line
Treating Campbell wastewater to supply a data center cooling system would likely cost:
$20 million to $30 million upfront, with $1 million to $3 million per year in operating expenses.
This is potentially comparable to or less than the cost of long-term disposal, while turning a waste stream into a reusable industrial water source.