Since the Wednesday announcement of OpenAI's proposed $20 billion data center in Effingham County, Georgia, questions about the project’s water usage have been a top concern for some residents. At Thursday's open house, OpenAI representatives said the facility would use a closed-loop cooling system designed to recycle and reuse most of the water. "We're using minimal water, circulating the water throughout the building," said Aaron McLear, OpenAI's vice president of communications. Some residents, like Summer Holt, remained concerned about the initial water contribution needed. County officials stated the project would rely on surface water from the Savannah River, not groundwater. "No groundwater will ever go to this project," said Commissioner Phil Kieffer. Several residents left with unanswered questions about the facility's initial and long-term water demand. WJCL requested an interview with the county manager and contacted the City of Savannah about its role in supplying water, but received no response prior to publication.