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Augusta utility staff recommends closed-loop cooling, municipal water connection for new data centers
Summary
City utility staff told residents the draft ordinance would require closed-loop (air- or closed-water) cooling systems, prohibit private wells in old city limits and require industrial permitting and metering for large withdrawals; the city treats about 48 million gallons daily.
Wes, identified in the meeting as the utility director, told residents the draft ordinance favors closed-loop cooling systems to limit open-water, high-volume cooling towers. "We're not encouraging or recommending open loop systems, trying to minimize water usage," he said, and added that closed-loop designs trade greater energy use for much lower water consumption.
Wes described the municipal limits and monitoring that would govern a large user: the state requires permits for withdrawals over 100,000 gallons per day, the city already meters industrial accounts (cellular telemetry provides frequent readings), and an industrial pretreatment program regulates cooling-water chemistry and discharge. He said Augusta currently treats around 48,000,000 gallons per day and that private wells would not be permitted in the old city limits for these operations.
Residents raised concerns about unmetered construction water, chemical handling and historic cases elsewhere; staff said construction metering, permit requirements and pretreatment rules would be enforced and that proprietary or unusual chemical wastes would likely be trucked offsite for disposal. The ordinance would require spill containment, annual water-use reporting and state EPD review for operations that affect discharges.
