Linn County study to find, fill data gaps around water use
Linn County supervisors discussed an agreement requiring Google to fund a roughly $242,000 independent study of regional water resources, demand and future needs. The study would examine conditions including extended drought and inform the county’s review of Google’s existing Cedar Rapids data center and proposed project near Palo; a formal vote is scheduled for Wednesday.
The Linn County Board of Supervisors discussed a draft agreement under which Google would pay for an independent water-resource assessment expected to cost about $242,000. The county plans to work with engineering firm Black & Veatch, while retaining control over the study’s scope, methods, conclusions and public release.
The assessment will examine regional water supplies, current usage and future demand under normal and drought conditions, including pressures from data centers, industrial growth and residential development. Supervisors Kirsten Running-Marquardt and Sami Scheetz expressed support, while emphasizing that the agreement would not commit the county to approving Google’s proposed data center campus near Palo, which the company hopes to annex into the city. A formal vote on the funding agreement is expected Wednesday.