Opinion: Texas Must Strengthen Water Management for Data Centers
An opinion piece argues that Texas faces a growing water crisis exacerbated by data centers and weak groundwater management laws. It highlights the lack of transparency from data centers regarding water usage and criticizes the "Rule of Capture" which allows unregulated pumping in many counties. The author advocates for stronger regulations and better funding for groundwater conservation districts, citing a CyrusOne project in Jack County, which lacks a conservation district, as a key example.
Glenn Rogers, writing for Dallas News, argues that Texas is facing an escalating water crisis, exacerbated by rapid population growth and the exponential increase in data center development. He points out the current inadequacy of the state's water infrastructure and the public's general unawareness of looming shortages.
The core of the issue, according to Rogers, lies in Texas's groundwater laws, particularly the "Rule of Capture," which permits landowners to extract unlimited groundwater from their property, often without regard for impacts on neighboring wells or aquifers. This contrasts with surface water, which is state-owned. While groundwater conservation districts (GCDs) exist in many counties to manage water use, 73 Texas counties lack such oversight, allowing massive industrial projects like data centers to pump unregulated amounts of water. Many existing GCDs are also underfunded and understaffed, limiting their effectiveness.
The Texas House Natural Resources Committee met in June to discuss data center water usage. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) reported a surge in data centers from 22 to 341, yet only 17% had responded to water usage surveys, hindering accurate statewide water planning. The TWDB also confirmed it cannot track groundwater pumping in counties without GCDs. Governor Greg Abbott has recently called for a ban on data center development in rural areas in response to these water and energy demand concerns.
The author, who lives in Palo Pinto County (a county without a GCD), specifically cites the CyrusOne data center project on the Jack-Wise county line. CyrusOne is planning construction in Jack County, which lacks a GCD, unlike neighboring Wise County. Rogers suggests this choice of location might be a deliberate attempt to avoid pumping regulations, underscoring the urgent need for long-term solutions and robust local water management entities despite political challenges.