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Board authorizes water infrastructure agreement with Amazon for Potomac Church data center
Summary
Staff described a utilities agreement where Amazon will fund and design most water reuse infrastructure for the Potomac Church data center; the board approved making the item time‑sensitive and adopted the resolution authorizing the interim county administrator to execute the agreement (motions passed unanimously).
The Stafford County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a water and wastewater infrastructure agreement tied to the Potomac Church data center on July 2, 2024.
Chris Adlerich, Director of Utilities, told the board that Amazon Web Services (AWS) committed to design and fund nearly all components of a water reuse system for northern Stafford County except for certain elements at the Aquia Wastewater Treatment Facility, which the county will design while AWS funds construction. The county will deliver potable water for the first building under conditions in the water services agreement and will develop a pro‑rata mechanism so that future developers who connect to the water reuse system reimburse Amazon for its upfront costs.
Staff said the agreement includes aggressive deadlines the county must meet for the design of the Aquia release facility (September 2025) and other milestones (May 2027 referenced as a target to have water reuse rates in place). Because the board was going into summer recess, staff requested the board declare the item time‑sensitive so work would not be delayed; the board approved the time‑sensitivity motion and then approved the resolution authorizing the interim county administrator to finalize the agreement. Both votes passed unanimously.
County legal staff indicated the county attorney’s office had been closely involved and believed the agreement protects county interests. Board members praised staff and county attorneys for negotiating terms and called it a significant and complex undertaking that should set a high standard for water‑reuse agreements.
Next steps include county design of the Aquia release facility, adoption of a pro‑rata reimbursement program, and coordination with county budget planners to anticipate water reuse rates for future budgets.
