Linn County approves agreement with Google for independent water study
The Linn County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with Google to fund an independent study of county water resources. The study will examine current and future water demand, drought risks, and connected sources as the county evaluates potential impacts of large-scale data centers during its moratorium.
The Linn County Board of Supervisors approved a memorandum of understanding requiring Google to pay up to $242,000 for the first phase of an independent water balance study. Black & Veatch will conduct the study, which will assess existing water use, future demand, drought conditions and data gaps, including resources connected to the Cedar River and its alluvial aquifer.
Linn County Planning & Development Director Charlie Nichols said Google will not review the study while it is underway or receive the results before they are made public. The study is part of the county’s moratorium on new large-scale data centers, adopted in July 2026 while officials review regulations and potential water-resource impacts. The study is expected to be completed in March 2027, ahead of a county advisory committee meeting on water resources.