Drought conditions in Virginia raise concerns about water use by proposed data centers
Communities across Virginia are expressing heightened concerns about the potential water usage of proposed data centers, especially in the context of ongoing drought conditions in the state. Residents worry that the millions of gallons of water required by data centers could exacerbate local water scarcity, impacting lawns, streams, and water tables. The article highlights these environmental challenges posed by new data center developments.
Columnist Larry Hypes, writing for the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, highlights growing community concerns in Virginia regarding the extensive water consumption of proposed data centers amidst severe drought conditions. The article, while initially discussing local county fairs in Mercer and Tazewell counties, shifts its focus to the heightened interest in water preservation across the Commonwealth.
Communities throughout Virginia, particularly in the Southwest and Southside regions experiencing drought conditions, are apprehensive about the substantial water demands of data centers, often measured in "millions of gallons." Residents report observing brown lawns and lower stream levels, fueling worries that new data center developments could intensify existing water scarcity issues. Hypes provides an illustrative example from nearby Smith Mountain Lake, where a specific inlet reportedly experienced a dramatic drop in water levels from five feet to five inches within a year.
The columnist draws parallels to critical water shortages in Western states, citing the historically low levels of Lake Mead, and underscores the potential severe impacts on agriculture and major cities like Las Vegas. Hypes speculates on future solutions, such as costly and infrastructure-intensive desalination plants. This discussion frames the data center water issue within a broader context of environmental concerns, including rising water temperatures and their effects on native fish species, alongside the immediate challenge of meeting the water needs of industrial developments.