California Report Underscores Data Center Water Use, Lawmakers Seek Disclosure Bills
A new report reveals that data center builders in California do not publicly disclose their water usage and are expanding into water-stressed regions. Following a gubernatorial veto last year, California lawmakers are now proposing new bills to mandate disclosures about data center water consumption and planning. Researchers found limited public access to environmental impact reports for these facilities, with crucial details often missing or vague.
The article from KQED discusses California's gubernatorial candidates' housing policies and separately highlights a report on data center water usage. The report, by think tank Next10 and Santa Clara University researchers, reveals that data center operators often avoid publicly disclosing their water consumption and are increasingly locating in water-stressed regions, particularly the Central and Imperial Valleys. This raises concerns about potential major impacts on already overtapped groundwater and strained surface water resources.
Researchers found that few environmental impact reports for California data centers are publicly available online, hindering transparency on their environmental and social impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act. Many projects bypass stringent review due to size or water use thresholds, or by qualifying for "ministerial approval." Even when reports exist, crucial information like owner, size, cooling systems, and water usage is often "missing, contradictory, or vague." Water providers in data center cluster areas also failed to provide usage data when contacted.
Following Governor Gavin Newsom's veto of a similar measure last year, California lawmakers are again attempting to legislate mandatory disclosures for data center water use and planning. Irina Raicu of Santa Clara University's Markkula Center for Applied Ethics emphasized the urgent need for data amidst a significant industry build-out.