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Residents warn data centers could strain Spokane County aquifer, river and farms
Summary
Multiple public speakers told the commission proposed large data centers would threaten local water supplies, harm farms and wildlife and require independent environmental study before permitting or UGA expansion.
Private-well owners, farmers and conservation-minded residents told the planning commission they believe large data centers will harm the Spokane River, private wells and the county's aquifer. Speakers cited published studies, local drought records and anecdotal reports from other states and urged the commission to require detailed water and environmental studies before permitting large-load users.
"According to United Nations and World Resources Institute data, a large data center consumes up to 5,000,000 gallons of water every single day," Rebecca Morhan said, arguing that such demand could "threaten the Spokane Valley Rath and Prairie aquifer" and surface-water flows. Other speakers described local agriculture and fire-protection vulnerabilities, saying a large customer could reduce water available for farms and for firefighting.
Staff and commissioners acknowledged water-system complexity and said the county does not directly control all water permits; planning staff emphasized the need to coordinate capital-facility planning and water-system maps with future land-use decisions. Staff presented high-level water-system statistics and said coordinated water-system planning has been underway since 2021.
