Botetourt County Planning Commissioner Concerned About Data Center’s Future Water Impact
Botetourt County officials are addressing concerns about a planned Google data center's future water impact. The county's Board of Supervisors has created an independent water commission to evaluate the project's effect on natural resources, as a planning commissioner voiced strong disagreement and concerns over the potential strain on the area's water supply.
Botetourt County, Virginia, is grappling with the potential water impact of a planned Google data center. The county's Board of Supervisors recently decided to establish an independent water commission. This new body is tasked with evaluating the data center's effects on local natural resources, particularly its projected daily water draw of approximately 2 million gallons.
The decision follows strong concerns voiced by Mark Tyson, a member of the Botetourt County Planning Commission. Tyson conducted his own research and consulted with outside experts, concluding that the data center's water demands could be detrimental to the Roanoke Valley's water situation, even calling it "suicide." He documented his findings in a 14-page water assessment, though he hopes his concerns are unfounded and seeks further expert evaluation.