By Kennedi Humble
Publication Date: 2026-11-02 23:49:00
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. (WNDU) – Hundreds of thousands of gallons of groundwater could be pumped into local creeks as construction moves forward on Microsoft’s planned data center development.
The St. Joseph County Drainage Board approved the plan Monday morning as part of a utility expansion supporting the project.
The process, known as dewatering, is used to remove groundwater from a construction site when the water table is too high. Officials said the water must be redirected before construction can begin.
According to project applications, the system could discharge groundwater at an estimated maximum rate of 200,000 gallons per hour. Three separate wells are expected to operate at different times between mid-December and early April — not all at once.
The wells would discharge into Willow Creek and Judy Creek. Drainage Board member Anthony Hazen said officials do not expect the discharge to cause flooding or creek overflow.
Residents living near the development remain…
