Exie Brown Demands Full Transparency: BOPU Must Immediately Name the Industrial User Responsible for Cheyenne’s Wastewater Bacterial Contamination

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2026

CHEYENNE, WY — Wyoming House District 9 candidate Exie Brown is calling on the City of Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities (BOPU) and local leadership to immediately and publicly identify the specific “industrial user” that discharged the bacterium Cupriavidus gilardii into Cheyenne’s sanitary sewer system — the incident detailed in BOPU’s June 26 notice.

A credible source with knowledge of the BOPU investigation and sampling, has informed Brown that the industrial user whose discharge privileges were permanently terminated is a data center in Cheyenne.

“BOPU’s press release spends considerable time reminding everyday residents and small businesses what not to put down the drain, while deliberately keeping the identity of the actual responsible party hidden behind vague language about ‘an industrial user,’” Brown said. “Cheyenne residents and ratepayers deserve the truth. When a major industrial facility introduces a contaminant that disrupts wastewater treatment, forces remediation of the reuse water system, and requires precautionary measures affecting irrigation, the public has a right to know exactly who was responsible — and why that information is being withheld.”

Key facts from BOPU’s own June 26 notice:

• In late February 2026, routine sampling detected an unusual bacterium later identified by the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory as Cupriavidus gilardii.
• The organism is associated with certain industrial metal reduction processes and advanced manufacturing applications.
• BOPU traced the source to one industrial user through field investigations and targeted sampling; that user’s discharge privileges were immediately and permanently terminated.
• The bacterium established itself in the biological treatment processes at both of BOPU’s Wastewater Reclamation facilities.
• As a result, the City’s reuse water system was taken offline. Extensive remediation — including draining and disinfecting the entire reuse system and Prairie View Pond — was required. Affected irrigation systems were temporarily converted to potable water.
• Reuse water irrigation services are scheduled to resume Monday, June 29, 2026, with signage posted in affected areas.
• While human infections are extremely rare, the bacterium can pose health risks to immunocompromised individuals and the elderly through direct exposure. BOPU notified the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) because the organism is not a regulated contaminant.

Brown noted that data centers represent some of the largest industrial water users in the Cheyenne area and place significant demands on public water and sewer infrastructure. This incident raises serious questions about the effectiveness of oversight, monitoring, and enforcement under BOPU’s Industrial Pretreatment Program for high-volume industrial users.

Brown is calling for immediate action:

1. Public disclosure of the responsible industrial user’s identity and the specific circumstances that led to the discharge.
2. A detailed public report on the investigation, communications with state and local government agencies, and any enforcement actions taken.
3. An independent review of whether current pretreatment standards and monitoring protocols are adequate for large-scale industrial facilities, including data centers.
4. Assurance that Cheyenne taxpayers and utility ratepayers will not unfairly bear remediation costs and that responsible parties will be held accountable.

“Rapid data center growth is transforming Cheyenne. Economic development can be positive, but it must be paired with genuine transparency, strong infrastructure protections, and accountability when things go wrong,” Brown said. “Residents should not be left in the dark or forced to guess whether powerful corporate interests are being shielded while general warnings are issued to the public at large. I will continue to fight for the transparency and responsible oversight our community deserves.”

Brown encourages Cheyenne residents to contact BOPU directly (307-637-6469 or ipp@cheyennebopu.org) to demand full disclosure and to reach out to their City Council representatives and state legislators on this issue.

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Exie Brown
Candidate for Wyoming House District 9

For media inquiries or to schedule an interview, contact:
Exie Brown
1-307-640-7901
Exie@exieforhouse.com