Critics charge Texas' new water plan has a data center blind spot
A draft of Texas' 2027 State Water Plan is raising concerns among water protection advocates who argue it fails to adequately account for the substantial water consumption of the growing data center industry. Critics, like Mike Clifford of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, believe the plan will fall short if it doesn't include future data center growth projections, potentially impacting the state's long-term water security.
A draft of the 2027 State Water Plan for Texas is drawing criticism from water protection advocates who assert it overlooks the significant water demands of the rapidly expanding data center industry. The plan, developed by the Texas Water Development Board, is intended to guide an estimated $174 billion in water development projects over the next five decades. Despite recent rainfall temporarily boosting levels in lakes like Austin's Lake Travis and Canyon Lake near San Antonio, advocates warn that drought conditions are likely to return quickly.
Mike Clifford of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance expressed surprise that the draft plan does not specifically address data centers' growing impact, noting their substantial water consumption. Clifford argues that without accounting for projected future growth in data centers, which currently number 461 in Texas, the plan will be inadequate. He emphasized the need to consider future trends rather than solely relying on historical data, which predates the recent surge in data center development.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin project that data centers could consume as much as 9 percent of Texas' total water by 2040, potentially surpassing the water usage of the oil and gas industry in the same timeframe. Advocates insist the plan must be revised to include these projections to ensure Texas' long-term water security.