{
  "id": 6452288,
  "title": "Massive leak at Bitcoin data center sees millions of gallons of water wasted — with schools, offices and businesses all closed",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/massive-leak-at-bitcoin-data-center-sees-millions-of-gallons-of-water",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-09T17:35:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/pro/massive-leak-at-bitcoin-data-center-sees-millions-of-gallons-of-water-wasted-with-schools-offices-and-businesses-all-closed"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the Oklahoma city of El Reno, a Bitcoin mining operation faced severe consequences after a massive water leak, estimated to be 3.8 million gallons, damaged public infrastructure including schools, offices, and the county courthouse. Despite a stop-work order issued by the city in 2023, the mining facility persisted, utilizing an unpermitted fire hydrant for water. Authorities spent two days searching for the source, discovering it on the mining site grounds—a hydrant previously unknown to city officials. The city has since condemned the property, issued a ten-day abatement notice, and scheduled an administrative hearing. Athlon BT, the mining operator, is accused of violating multiple safety regulations and failing to address the hydrant's unauthorized installation. The city plans to bill Athlon for water, overtime, and repair costs, though locating the company's owner has proven challenging.",
  "summary": "A Bitcoin mining site in Oklahoma leaked 3.8 million gallons of water, effectively closing schools for two days, as the city admitted it never enforced its own stop-work order from 2023.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}