Dubuque County Supervisors Discuss Water Resources, Data Center Impacts
The Dubuque County Board of Supervisors met to discuss updating the stormwater ordinance and review water resources. During the discussion, officials and residents raised concerns about potential groundwater impacts and water usage by hypothetical data centers. The meeting highlighted the need to update existing regulations and address environmental considerations.
The Dubuque County Board of Supervisors convened in Peosta, Iowa, for a meeting where several key environmental issues were discussed, particularly concerning water resources and potential impacts from development. Eric Schmechel, Watershed Program Director, outlined the need to update the 2010 Storm Water Ordinance to align with Iowa 5F455 standards, using a hypothetical data center as an example to illustrate potential effects on stormwater systems.
Further presentations included Dean Mattoon's dashboard on Dubuque County's water monitoring results and State Geologist Keith Schilling's insights into the county's geological makeup, groundwater resources, and the presence of high nitrate levels. Michael Anderson, Lead Engineer with the Iowa DNR, elaborated on Iowa's Water Use Programs and permit approvals, noting that data centers could qualify for beneficial permits but also bring concerns regarding groundwater impacts and transparency due to non-disclosure agreements. Residents actively participated, posing questions about ordinance details related to water, cooling methods, penalties, and retention ponds.