Fort Worth Considers 90-Day Moratorium Amid Data Center Water Pollution Concerns
Fort Worth officials have begun the process of imposing a 90-day moratorium on data center development, with a first public hearing scheduled for November 10, 2026. Residents and water-quality experts are concerned that cooling-tower chemicals, salts and runoff from rapidly expanding data centers could affect local water supplies.
Fort Worth City Council initiated a 90-day moratorium on data center development and construction on Aug. 11, 2026. The first public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 10 as officials consider stricter water- and power-use regulations for AI-related construction.
The debate reflects broader concerns across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where existing data centers represent about 760 megawatts of capacity and proposed sites could add 3.7 gigawatts. Residents and environmental experts, including Steven Smith of Mother Modern Plumbing, question whether closed-loop cooling systems and wastewater treatment will adequately prevent chemical runoff from reaching local water supplies.