Equinix data center in New Jersey leaks 5,000 gallons of diesel into local waterway

An Equinix data center in Secaucus, New Jersey, spilled an estimated 5,000 to 5,500 gallons of diesel fuel after a storage tank failure on September 11, sending No. 2 diesel into a storm drain and then into an unnamed tributary feeding Anderson Creek, a small waterway connected to the Hackensack River. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection confirmed the spill is now contained and that the fuel did not reach the Hackensack River itself.

Cleanup crews, led by Equinix’s contractor Clean Harbors, had recovered roughly 3,500 gallons by the following weekend using vacuum trucks and sorbent materials. Work is ongoing under oversight from both the NJ DEP and the US Coast Guard, with the remaining fuel still being extracted from impacted sections of the creek.

What went wrong at the NY2 facility

The leak originated from an outdoor diesel storage tank at Equinix’s NY2 data center, a facility the company has operated since 2001. The cause has been attributed to a mechanical failure involving valves, with some reports pointing to a computer glitch as a contributing factor. The NY2 facility spans approximately 130,000 square feet and serves a diverse roster of clients.

Authorities have said no impacts have been observed on the Hackensack River, Anderson Creek wetlands, local wildlife, or drinking water sources. As of mid-September, 1,500 gallons of diesel remain unaccounted for, still somewhere in the tributary system.

The environmental cost of keeping the lights on

Equinix is one of the world’s largest data center operators, running more than 260 facilities across dozens of countries. New Jersey has become a major hub for data center development, driven by its proximity to New York City’s financial markets and its dense fiber-optic connectivity. That same geography puts these facilities in close proximity to the Meadowlands ecosystem, a sensitive wetland complex that environmental groups have spent decades trying to restore. Anderson Creek and its feeder tributaries are part of that broader watershed.

What this means for the industry

Local officials, including Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli, have voiced alarm over the incident, suggesting a possible push for natural resource damage claims as an appropriate response. Equinix’s NY2 has been operational for 25 years without a previous similar incident, though the incident raises questions about aging infrastructure as valves degrade and control systems develop faults over time.