Residents question water use in drought, data center plan
In Box Elder County, Utah, a proposed data center development is facing scrutiny from residents and water districts due to its estimated annual water consumption of 16.6 billion gallons. This comes as northern Utah implements water restrictions amidst a severe drought, raising concerns about the project's impact on local water resources and temperatures.
With northern Utah facing one of its driest winters in recent memory, water districts are implementing significant conservation measures. Scott Paxman, General Manager and CEO of the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, announced that communities under their service are requested to cease landscape watering until May 15th and will see a 20% reduction in irrigation contracts. Residents are advised not to water more than three days a week, even in peak summer months, due to reservoirs not being at capacity.
However, these restrictions coincide with discussions around a proposed data center development in Box Elder County, which has sparked alarm among locals. According to Utah Clean Energy, a Salt Lake-based nonprofit, the facility could demand an astounding 16.6 billion gallons of water annually, equivalent to about 25,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Community members express fear and question state and local leaders about the project's potential impact on their water supply and local temperatures, especially as they are being asked to conserve individually. The timing of the large-scale water demand for the data center amidst severe drought conditions is a major point of contention.