2 million gallons a day is enough for Google data center campus, water authority says
Google has assured the Western Virginia Water Authority that 2 million gallons of water per day will suffice for its planned data center campus in Botetourt County. A citizen raised concerns about data center water consumption at a recent board meeting, especially given ongoing drought conditions affecting the region's main reservoir.
During a recent board meeting, Western Virginia Water Authority Executive Director Michael McEvoy announced that Google has confirmed 2 million gallons of water per day would be sufficient to support its planned data center campus in Botetourt County.
This announcement is significant as the region experiences ongoing drought conditions, visibly impacting the Carvins Cove Reservoir, the authority's single largest water source. Google had previously acquired 312 acres at the Botetourt Center at Greenfield for the data center development.
During the citizen's comment period, Jonathan Gros spoke, sharing his concerns about data centers and asking the water authority to protect the residents of the Roanoke Valley from potential water strain.