DeSoto County Data Center CEO Tackles the Water Question Locals Are Really Asking
A proposed data center in DeSoto County, Florida, is facing local concerns regarding its water consumption. Jon Brown, CEO of DeSoto County Industrial Park, addressed residents' questions in Arcadia, outlining a water priority system that places groundwater last. The project aims to use reclaimed water and advanced cooling technology to minimize impact.
DeSoto County Industrial Park CEO Jon Brown addressed community concerns in Arcadia, Florida, regarding the water usage of a proposed data center. Residents voiced strong concerns about the facility's massive cooling water needs and its potential impact on local groundwater supplies, which many depend on through private wells.
Brown detailed a water priority strategy that begins with reclaimed water from Arcadia's sewage treatment plant, followed by water collected on the campus, with groundwater only as a last resort. He also highlighted the use of newer, closed-loop recirculating cooling systems that significantly reduce water consumption. While the reclaimed water agreement is still in planning, Brown emphasized the facility's intent to operate independently, claiming plans for off-grid power using existing plant infrastructure were in place even before Governor Ron DeSantis signed regulations requiring AI data centers to cover their own utility costs. The project, if approved, would involve 14-18 months of construction for Phase One, creating 25 jobs, with potential for six phases. Local residents remain to be convinced that their wells will be protected.