Gámez: State Water Plan needs to account for proliferation of data centers
State Rep. Erin Elizabeth Gámez questioned the Texas Water Development Board on how the state's water plan accounts for the significant water consumption of data centers. While the current plan lacks specific projections, the TWDB stated it is now separating data center water use into a distinct sub-sector for future planning cycles. Draft methodologies are being developed to better project this industry's impact.
State Rep. Erin Elizabeth Gámez (D-Brownsville) pressed officials from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) on Monday regarding the omission of data center water consumption from the state's long-term water planning documents. During a House Committee on Natural Resources hearing at Weslaco City Hall, Gámez expressed concern that high-consumption facilities, some potentially using millions of gallons of water daily, could overwhelm regional water strategies, especially given the rapid proliferation of data centers across Texas.
Matt Nelson, deputy executive administrator for planning at the TWDB, acknowledged that the current state water plan does not explicitly list data centers as a separate category. However, he informed the committee that the agency is adapting by creating a distinct sub-sector for data center water use within the manufacturing category for upcoming planning cycles. This new approach will leverage data from the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and power demand projections from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).
Nelson conceded the difficulty of accurate projections due to the industry's fast pace, the five-year planning cycle, and the proprietary nature of private development, stating that all projections are inherently imperfect. He added that draft methodologies for these projections are in development and will soon be shared with regional water planning groups for local input. Rep. Gámez emphasized the public's need for greater transparency and foresight from state agencies and the Legislature regarding these immense resource demands, calling it a "sensitive issue" requiring "protection."