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Residents urge Spokane County to block proposed data centers, citing water and health concerns
Summary
During the June 16 public forum, multiple residents and a physician urged Spokane County commissioners to halt new data-center projects, warning of heavy water use, noise, air and light pollution, PFAS risks, and a lack of public transparency around procurement.
Several Spokane County residents used the June 16 open public forum to urge commissioners to prevent new data centers in the county, citing threats to the Spokane River, the aquifer, health impacts and a lack of transparency about negotiations.
"We cannot allow a data center to be built on the lands of Spokane County," a resident who identified herself as Zantia said, arguing data centers could further dry the Spokane River and harm the community’s water supply.
Becky (introduced by the chair as Becky Dickeroff) told commissioners she had learned — through Avista and other public research — that an elected official had "been actively courting a data center to come here without public info," and she urged transparency in any procurement process.
Dr. Elizabeth O'Halloran, who said she grew up in Spokane and now lives in Spokane County, asked the board to adopt nuisance‑control ordinances and zoning that would prohibit new data centers. She described a range of possible harms, including sustained noise, light pollution and air emissions, and she cited numeric claims from public reporting and models: "Large data centers use 5,000,000 gallons of water per day," she said, and warned of modeled health outcomes tied to air pollution.
Speakers asked the county to coordinate with the City of Spokane, adopt moratoria where appropriate, and involve the public in procurement decisions. No county staff response or formal regulatory action was recorded during the meeting; the concerns were captured in public comment only.
What happens next: Commissioners did not take formal action on data-center policy during the session. Residents said they would seek coordinated moratoria with city partners and follow up with commissioners for meetings within two weeks.
