Water demand for Spartanburg data center more than doubles original estimate

NorthMark Compute and Cloud has announced a significant increase in the projected water demand for its proposed data center in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. The company stated in a social media post that the facility, once fully built out, is expected to use an average of 1.2 million gallons of water per day, with a peak of 1.6 million gallons daily. This revised figure more than doubles the initial estimate of 459,000 gallons per day, which NorthMark attributed to an early Phase I wastewater survey that did not reflect the full buildout's requirements.

The updated projections were submitted to Spartanburg Water on February 11, 2026, as part of a Large Water Meter Questionnaire. Spartanburg Water has reportedly confirmed its capacity to meet this demand without impacting current or future customers.

However, Dr. Octavia Amaechi, Spartanburg County Commissioner of Public Works, expressed strong concerns regarding the substantial change in water demand figures. She emphasized the importance of transparency, accurate information, responsible resource stewardship, and public accountability. Dr. Amaechi indicated that her concerns extend beyond mere capacity, raising questions about the methodology behind the revised projections, daily water consumption, and the long-term implications for water use in the county. NorthMark, for its part, affirmed its commitment to transparency and willingness to address inquiries about the project's water and wastewater plans.