XAI promised it would save billions of gallons of fresh drinking water every year by recycling wastewater. Now, that's in doubt.

Within moments of xAI's presence in Memphis becoming public in June 2024, people worried about the water.

They worried about how a massive data center would treat the Memphis Sand Aquifer, the drinking-water supply so beloved it inspired a beer.

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company -- at the urging of local leaders, including Memphis Mayor Paul Young and Memphis Light, Gas and Water CEO Doug McGowen -- moved quickly to assuage those concerns.