Plan commission member urges moratorium on large data centers over water and riparian concerns

A member of the county's plan commission, speaking during public comment, asked the Board of Commissioners to pre‑emptively address data‑center development and its potential effects on groundwater and surface water. The commenter cited Boone County's moratorium on data centers in unincorporated areas and said neighboring places have seen changes in water quality following data‑center construction.

"We don't want our citizens taken by surprise," the speaker said, urging the plan commission to draft a policy to protect riparian rights and to consider a moratorium in unincorporated Washington County. The speaker described local geological features — including cave systems and groundwater resources — and warned of long‑term contamination risks. "Some of these data centers are saying that they are gonna use a closed loop, but eventually, they're gonna have to swap out that water and the dirty, nasty, PFAS contaminated water that could probably cause birth defects and environmental damage," the speaker said.

The plan commission member suggested forming subcommittees to research zoning and water‑use impacts and said the group intends to propose a declaration asserting water for the county's people, animals and agriculture. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the plan commission's procedures and said they would receive plan commission recommendations when ready.

No ordinance or formal moratorium was proposed or voted on during the meeting; the comment was presented as a request that the plan commission and commissioners study the issue and consider drafting policy.