A Bitcoin mining facility in El Reno, Oklahoma, leaked roughly 3 to 3.8 million gallons of water into the ground around August 28 as the region faced severe drought conditions. The leak caused water pressure to collapse across the city, temporarily forcing schools and public buildings to close when taps ran dry. The source was a damaged private water line connected to an unauthorized fire hydrant installed by Athlon Blockchain Technology LLC. Because the hydrant was not sanctioned, city crews were not monitoring it and the leak remained undetected until residents reported sputtering faucets. The facility contains containerized data centers used for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence storage. El Reno condemned the site and issued the property owner a 10-day removal notice. Mayor Steve Jensen said taxpayers would not bear the leak-related costs. The city plans to bill Athlon for the metered water and response expenses, while an administrative hearing on September 14 will determine further action. City records show officials issued a stop-work order in June 2023 because the facility lacked a certificate of occupancy, but operations apparently continued. The incident has renewed debate over oversight of mining facilities and water-intensive industrial users, with officials reportedly considering enhanced monitoring systems for major leaks and industrial consumption.