Neighbors critical of Microsoft’s construction of the server room in Gävle

Paula Lind enlists the help of her neighbor Anna-Karin Löfstrand to lift the lid of her well. It is almost empty. Anna-Karin herself and Mari Norén-Hedberg, who live nearby, have the same situation. Another neighbor is completely empty in his well. This is your only access to water at home.

In Paula Lind’s house, the water continues to flow, but in small amounts. Just flush the toilet. Then the family can choose between washing in the dishwasher or washing in the washing machine once a week. He showers at work, because the water is not enough at home. None of the neighbors drink the water anymore. When the level in the wells is so low, you cannot be sure of the quality, they say.

They’ve never had this problem before, and Paula, Anna-Karin and Mari are convinced that their sunken wells are due to Microsoft preparing the ground to build huge server rooms in a large area around their home in Stackbo, a small village on the outskirts of Gävle.

In a separate investigation As Microsoft has done, it seems that during the construction work on the server room, they intend to lower the groundwater level in the area by a maximum of 6.5 meters.

Normally, you have to apply for a permit before you start draining the groundwater, says Hans Sjöberg, who works as an environmental manager at the County Administrative Board in Gävle. Microsoft has not done it in this case. However, they did a so-called “Hydrogeological PM” in which they tried to find out if there are risks associated with a future groundwater discharge and submitted it to the County Administrative Board for evaluation.

– We have really only given a statement based on their research, that a preliminary assessment on our part was that they would not need to apply for a permit from the Land and Environment Court.

But he emphasizes that it is the company itself that decides whether or not to apply for such permission.

The fact that several wells have already dried up in the area where Microsoft is working and building has prompted the County Administrative Board to begin work on their own investigation, where they are trying to find out if the drained wells have anything to do with construction. from Microsoft.

– First we have to find out whether it is your responsibility or not, says Hans Sjöberg.

– If that’s the case, we could say that now you have to stop this. But now most of it has already been done, so you might come to the conclusion that they need to compensate the owners in some way.

For Microsoft’s closest neighbors Water is just one of many difficulties that have arisen since construction of the company’s data center began. They have also found themselves in situations where the entrance to their home has been blocked without warning, so they are unable to get to or leave the house, and that landlines were suddenly cut off and unavailable for several days, for which also were left without internet connection.

But apart from the water shortage, it is the traffic that they have had the most problems with. The small, narrow Laggarbovägen coming out of them has become a busy stretch since construction began.

– There are almost no cars, but there are trucks that are heavily laden with gravel, says Anna-Karin Löfstrand.

The highway is marked 70, but because data centers will be built so quickly, speeds aren’t holding up, nearby residents say. Sending children to school buses in such an environment feels dangerous and so does moving on the road.

– Sections of the road are completely broken and the road was narrow even before. What should I do then when they come thundering? I can’t jump over the gutter, says Mari Norén-Hedberg, who is in a permobile.

Mari, Anna-Karin, and Paula experience that their lives have deteriorated significantly since construction began, and that they receive no support when they discover that they have ended up on a collision course with one of the largest companies in the world.

– It would have been much easier for Microsoft and for us if they had bought us. You don’t want to live here anymore, it’s so difficult, says Mari Norén-Hedberg.

Andreas Wingren, communications manager for Microsoft, tells DN via email that they are awaiting the investigation from the County Administrative Board and cannot say much more at this time, but that they have “taken extra precautions” during construction and that “They regularly monitor groundwater levels at the site.”

-Microsoft only does what it wants, it shits who it affects, says Mari Norén-Hedberg.

Her and her Neighbors then seem more disappointed in the municipality of Gävle, believing that they would rather close their eyes to the negative consequences of the establishment than do something that could mean they clash with Microsoft.

They say that when they call the municipality for any matter – school transportation, traffic situation, construction permits or water – they always end up with one and the same person, who works as municipal coordinator for the Microsoft establishment.

– And there is always the cross. She works for Microsoft. It seems that the entire municipal leadership of Gävle is doing it, sighs Mari Norén-Hedberg.

Erik Holmestig (C) he is chairman of the community building committee of the municipality of Gävle. He says he understands that the locals are frustrated that their wells have run dry.

– It would be better if Microsoft could find out if it is their responsibility and, if so, take further action without further discussion. But it is Microsoft and not me who decides.

Erik Holmestig says that the Gävle municipality “is not a major player in this” but that they worked to promote dialogue between the parties, including through a consultation meeting in early autumn. And Laggarbovägen is not municipal, so it is the Swedish Transport Administration that will take responsibility, he says.

Regarding the experience of local residents that the municipality of Gävle no longer represents the interests of citizens, he responds:

– It’s unfortunate. The municipality represents the citizens and will provide them with the best possible service. But it cannot get to a point where the municipality is liable for the actions of an individual company.

Paula Lind says that the municipality’s consultation initiative has been good, but that it has not meant that they have won a hearing or that there has been a real dialogue. And he thinks that the municipality should continue to be responsible for what happens to them now, in the sense that they sold the land to Microsoft and are doing everything in their power to simplify its establishment.

– In any case, it is the municipality that has invited Microsoft here and has received them with open arms. Then they must also be involved in the consequences of it.