Richmond and Henrico leaders urge water conservation, say data centers are not exempt
Due to severe drought conditions, officials in Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia, are urging all customers, including data centers, to implement voluntary water conservation measures. This request comes after public concerns were raised about whether data centers would be held to the same standard. Both Richmond and Henrico County officials confirmed that no entity is exempt from the conservation efforts.
Richmond Mayor Danny Avula announced that due to drought conditions pushing water reservoirs below normal levels, Richmond and Henrico County officials are requesting all customers, including data centers, to adopt voluntary water conservation measures starting July 1. While the situation has not reached a crisis, Avula emphasized that small changes can make a significant difference.
The announcement prompted questions from residents, including influencer Molly Bish, who publicly inquired about the plan for data centers' water usage. In response, Richmond's Department of Public Utilities issued a statement clarifying that "No entity is exempt" from the city's conservation requests. Bentley Chan from Henrico County's Department of Public Utilities echoed this, stating that the request extends to all customers in the county.
Chan noted that despite Henrico's technology park being home to 11 data centers, their water use is comparatively low, especially when compared to industries like food and drink production or pharmaceutical manufacturing. He explained that most data center water consumption is tied to initial construction for filling systems, with only sanitary uses beyond that.
The Data Center Coalition also issued a statement, affirming that the industry complies with local government restrictions during water shortages and is committed to responsible and efficient use of resources like water and energy.