No special water limits for data centers during droughts
Data centers in Virginia are subject to the same water restrictions as all other commercial, industrial, and residential customers during drought conditions, with no special carve-outs. State and local officials confirmed this policy, as the Department of Environmental Quality reviews drought response procedures amid the state's most severe drought in decades. A Google data center in the Roanoke area is expected to begin water usage in 2028, with its policies being considered by local authorities.
Virginia is currently experiencing its most severe drought in decades, prompting Governor Abigail Spanberger to urge citizens to conserve water. Despite data centers' significant water consumption for cooling, state and local officials have confirmed that these facilities are subject to the same water restrictions as all other commercial, industrial, and residential customers during drought conditions.
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is responsible for permitting groundwater withdrawals for public water authorities, who then manage local water use and restrictions. Weedon Cloe, manager of the Office of Water Supply at DEQ, indicated that the department is reviewing its drought assessment and response procedures given the extreme conditions. Virginia has not experienced such dryness since 2002, a drought that led to the creation of the state's entire water supply program.
Several localities, including Henrico, Loudoun, and Fairfax counties, adhere to this policy. Bentley Chan, director of Henrico’s public utilities, noted that only one of the county's 11 data centers ranks among its top 10 water users, with apartment complexes and hospitals consuming more. In the Roanoke area, the Western Virginia Water Authority is considering updating its policies in anticipation of a Google data center, authorized to use up to 8 million gallons of water per day, becoming operational in 2028. Norfolk currently has no data centers relying on its utilities. Across the state, three main drought stages (watch, warning, emergency) dictate whether localities recommend voluntary conservation or implement mandatory restrictions and potential fines for non-essential water use.