Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Supply topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners press for water-use projections; wells prohibited for data centers
Summary
The draft rules prohibit using private wells as a data‑center water source, require applicants to submit daily and peak water‑use projections and place responsibility on applicants for any required utility upgrades.
A focal point of the June 3 discussion was water supply and the possibility a high‑use data center could strain local wells or water systems.
Mrs. Dunlap said the draft would forbid wells as a water source for data centers and require applicants to submit projections of daily and peak water usage. Commissioners raised public concerns that a data center could "run a well dry because of how much water the data center used," Commissioner Patterson said, describing the perception voiced to the commission. Staff responded that applicants must provide water‑use projections and that utility providers or County Utilities would certify whether service capacity existed; any upgrades to accommodate demand would be the applicant's responsibility.
The draft also prohibits data centers inside wellhead protection areas and requires discharged water to meet state water‑quality regulations and any necessary permits. Staff said these requirements would be verified through third‑party reports submitted with the conditional‑use application.
