Residents question water use as Utah faces drought, data center plan

Name: Residents question water use as Utah faces drought, data center plan
Uploaded: 2026-05-13T00:32:38.000Z
Duration: 4 min 38 s
Description: As northern Utah faces severe drought and water restrictions, residents are questioning a proposed data center project in Box Elder County. The project could require billions of gallons of water annually, raising concerns about conservation efforts during a dry year. Water districts are urging residents to cut back on water usage due to low reservoir levels.

News Clip4:38KUTV 2 News Salt Lake City·Box Elder County, UT·5/13/2026

As northern Utah faces severe drought and water restrictions, residents are questioning a proposed data center project in Box Elder County. The project could require billions of gallons of water annually, raising concerns about conservation efforts during a dry year. Water districts are urging residents to cut back on water usage due to low reservoir levels.

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Gov: Weber Basin Water Conservancy District

As water restrictions take effect across northern Utah following one of the driest winters in recent years, some residents are questioning conservation messaging as a massive data center project is proposed in Box Elder County — one that could require billions of gallons of water annually.

Water districts across the region are urging residents to cut back usage this summer, citing low reservoir levels and rising temperatures expected to reach the 90s and 100s.

“This was one of those bad, dry years,” said Scott Paxman, general manager and CEO of the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District.

READ MORE: https://kutv.com/news/utah-water/residents-question-water-use-as-utah-faces-drought-data-center-plan
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