DUBLIN, Ireland: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched an investigation into noise complaints linked to a data center in Clondalkin, west Dublin.

The agency said it received its first complaint about noise from Echelon Data Centers' DUB10 facility on July 15. Since then, it has received 12 complaints from local residents.

Residents have described the noise as a continuous, low-frequency hum that is particularly noticeable at night.

Clondalkin resident Aaron Jeffrey, 25, said he first noticed the noise in late July. He said he had tried using earplugs and noise-canceling headphones to block it out, but the sound remained difficult to escape.

He said the noise could continue for several hours and had affected his sleep and everyday life.

Jeffrey said the noise was mainly heard at night, although it could also be noticed in the morning and afternoon. He said it had occurred regularly until the previous week and had become particularly bad on some weekends.

His girlfriend initially believed the sound was coming from someone using a vacuum cleaner in a nearby apartment. Jeffrey later realized that it appeared to be coming from the data center.

He said the disruption had affected his sleeping pattern because the noise was less frequent during the daytime. He also raised the issue in a local Facebook group, where other residents responded with similar complaints.

Local Independent councilor and South Dublin County Council Mayor Francis Timmons said a significant number of residents had contacted him about the noise.

He said the complaints related to disruption at night and had affected people's ability to sleep and use their gardens. He welcomed the EPA investigation and called for a quick response.

The EPA said it had been communicating with complainants where possible and had also contacted the data center about the complaints.

The agency has hired independent consultants to carry out noise monitoring at locations considered sensitive to noise. The work is intended to establish the level and possible source of the disturbance.

Echelon Data Centers said it took its environmental responsibilities and its relationship with local communities very seriously.

The company said it had brought in external acoustic experts after receiving reports of intrusive noise during the night. It said investigations had already identified and removed a generator operated by a contractor outside normal hours.

Additional measures were also introduced to reduce noise from chillers installed on the facility's roof.

Following another complaint to the EPA, an investigation team returned to the site on August 31. Echelon said it expected to receive an initial analysis of the latest noise recordings and would compare those findings with data collected independently at the site.

The company said it had identified what it believed was the likely source of the noise and had taken immediate steps to address the problem. It said resolving the issue remained a major priority.