A Southaven xAI chemical spill sent thousands of gallons of propylene glycol out of a storage tank Saturday, and some of the liquid flowed into a nearby drainage ditch, according to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). State officials say cleanup crews have been working since Saturday morning to contain and recover the material.
Preliminary information from MDEQ puts the release at roughly 5,000 to 6,000 gallons. The spill happened at an xAI facility in Southaven, part of the company’s growing data center operation in the city. Reports did not say which of the company’s Southaven sites was involved or what caused the tank to leak.
How Crews Are Containing the Southaven xAI Chemical Spill
MDEQ said responders built berms both upstream and downstream in the affected ditch to keep the liquid from moving farther. A cleanup contractor arrived around 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, and began pulling the spilled material out with vacuum trucks. MDEQ emergency response staff have been on scene to assist.
In a later update, the agency said the work will continue in several stages:
Cleanup contractor Mid South Environmental Services will keep recovering the spilled liquid.
The contractor will dig up and properly dispose of contaminated soil along the site’s silt fence.
xAI will coordinate any additional cleanup and carry out periodic inspections to find and remove material that remains.
State updates on the spill did not mention any injuries or evacuations. Action News 5 said it reached out to xAI for comment and was still waiting for a response.
What Is Propylene Glycol?
Propylene glycol is a clear, nearly odorless liquid. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is found in products such as antifreeze, deicers, and heat-transfer fluids, also known as coolants. Large computing facilities rely on cooling systems to keep their equipment from overheating, though officials have not said what the spilled fluid was used for at the Southaven facility.
The chemical is generally considered low in toxicity to people. Still, large releases into ditches and streams are a concern for regulators, because the breakdown of glycol in water can use up oxygen that fish and other aquatic life need. That is one reason state officials moved quickly to block the ditch and remove the liquid.
Latest in a Busy Month for xAI in Southaven
The spill adds to a string of environmental questions surrounding the company’s Southaven operations, which are run through its subsidiary MZX Tech and have been referred to as SpaceXAI in recent filings and reports:
On Nov. 10, the MDEQ Permit Board upheld the air permit for the company’s gas-turbine power plant in Southaven after an evidentiary hearing.
A company filing disclosed potential penalties of about $6.1 million tied to land disturbed at three Southaven sites without state stormwater permits. Those penalties are separate from this weekend’s spill.
A satellite-based study released this month estimated that nitrogen oxide emissions from the power plant were far above permitted levels. The company has not publicly responded to its findings.
Residents who see unusual runoff, odors, or discolored water in ditches near the Southaven facilities can report environmental concerns to MDEQ’s emergency response line. DeSoto County News will update this story as MDEQ or xAI release more information.
