New Virginia law requires data center water usage be made public
A new Virginia state law will require local water authorities to publicly report data center water usage. Spearheaded by Loudoun County Senator Kannan Srinivasan, the law aims to address concerns about the industry's water consumption. Henrico County's Public Utilities Director, Bentley Chan, stated his department is prepared to comply with the new reporting requirements once guidance is provided.
A new Virginia state law mandates that local water authorities publicly report the water usage of data centers. Loudoun County Senator Kannan Srinivasan championed the bill, explaining that it was necessary to provide credible data to address public complaints about the data center industry's water consumption, particularly given its rapid growth compared to other industries.
The collected water usage numbers will be aggregated and made available on the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's website, allowing for comparisons with other sectors like wineries, breweries, and golf courses. Bentley Chan, Director of Public Utilities for Henrico County, indicated that tracking water usage for the 11 data centers in his region would not be difficult, as his department already collects meter readings regularly. He expects minimal impact on existing services or budgets and is awaiting guidance on reporting protocols.
The data center industry, for its part, highlights state reports suggesting their water usage accounts for less than 0.5% of total state withdrawals and points to advancements in cooling systems and the use of reclaimed water to reduce consumption. Senator Srinivasan anticipates the reporting website to be operational by January 1, 2027.