xAI is constructing what it claims will be the world’s largest ceramic membrane bioreactor in Memphis, Tennessee. This $80 million facility will process 49.2 million liters (13 million gallons) of wastewater daily, primarily to cool Elon Musk’s Colossus supercomputer. The AI startup is collaborating with Cerafiltec, a German ceramic membrane specialist, on this ambitious project. The facility will be built on a 13-acre site that xAI is purchasing from the Memphis city council for $820,000. Set to begin operations later this year, the plant will generate excess treated water beyond Colossus’s cooling requirements, which can be supplied to other local businesses. This will help reduce pressure on the Memphis Sands Aquifer, the region’s primary drinking water source.
Mark Carroll, xAI’s wastewater engineer leading the project, emphasized that Cerafiltec’s ceramic technology meets their demanding requirements for reliable and efficient water treatment. The partnership aims to set new benchmarks in both technology and water efficiency. The Memphis City Council initially expressed skepticism about the land sale but ultimately approved it. Mayor Paul Young welcomed the development, stating that xAI has “found a solution our community has been asking for since 2017.”
xAI’s Brent Mayo assured council members that sustainability is “critically important” for the company’s operations. This addresses previous concerns from community groups about potential negative impacts on the city’s air quality and water supply.
