Data Center Water Usage

Water consumption, cooling demands, and water resource concerns related to data center operations. Data Center Signal is tracking 17,152 clips related to water across all 50 states.

17152Clips

15States

States

Companies

Google6%

Amazon4%

Meta4%

Microsoft3%

OpenAI2%

Oracle2%

QTS1%

xAI1%

DC BLOX1%

CyrusOne1%

News ClipIllinois Times·Springfield, Sangamon County, IL

Data centers are reshaping electricity demand

A University of Illinois Springfield event examined the environmental effects of expanding data centers, including increased electricity demand, fossil-fuel generation, air pollution, blackout risks, noise and water use. Boston University professor Mary Willis also discussed the approved CyrusOne data center project and opportunities for communities to negotiate benefits and monitor local impacts.

environmental electricity water

CyrusOne

10/23/2026

News ClipWesterly Sun·Hopkinton, Washington County, RI

Hopkinton council unanimously approves data center ban

The Hopkinton Town Council unanimously approved an amendment prohibiting data centers in every zoning district. The 5-0 vote followed a public hearing where residents raised concerns about energy use, water consumption, noise, wildlife and environmental impacts, while one resident urged strict regulation instead of an outright ban.

zoning government environmental electricity water

10/23/2026

News ClipFort Worth Star-Telegram·Sunland Park, Doña Ana County, NM

Project Jupiter permit application public hearing scheduled for December

A public hearing on Project Jupiter's air quality permit has been rescheduled for Dec. 7 in Sunland Park, New Mexico. Yucca Growth Infrastructure LLC is seeking approval to use a natural gas pipeline to power thousands of Bloom Energy fuel cells at the Oracle- and OpenAI-backed data center campus, while environmental advocates challenge the permit over emissions and other concerns.

environmental government legal opposition electricity water

Oracle OpenAI

10/23/2026

News ClipPost and Courier·Spartanburg County, SC

Spartanburg County Council approves preliminary NorthMark data center development agreement$

Spartanburg County Council approved a preliminary development agreement for the NorthMark and Valara data center under the county’s data center moratorium. The agreement requires reporting and compliance measures covering noise, light, landscaping, water, utility demand and air quality, while allowing accelerated approval reviews.

government environmental electricity water moratorium

10/23/2026

News ClipThe Gazette·Palo, Linn County, IA

Google pitches Palo on data center at lengthy town hall

Google presented plans for Project Meridian, a potential data center campus on about 550 acres near Palo and the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Linn County. The project could include up to six buildings, use nuclear power and Cedar River water, and begin construction in 2027, pending annexation and other approvals.

announcement electricity water government

Google

10/23/2026

News ClipTama-Toledo News Chronicle·Toledo, Tama County, IA

Iowa Candidate Calls for Moratorium on New Data Center Approvals

Berleen Wobeter, a Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 53, supports a statewide moratorium on new data center approvals until Iowa adopts standards for construction, cooling, power arrangements and cost protections. She organized a public forum in Tama County featuring Doug Sevey, CEO of Enseva Data Center, and called for independent research and greater local input.

moratorium electricity water environmental government

10/23/2026

News ClipIndex-Journal·Greenwood County, SC

State standards: Reps. McCravy and Gibson propose statewide rules for data center development

South Carolina Reps. John McCravy and Daniel Gibson are preparing legislation that would establish statewide standards for new data centers, including limits on water use, noise, residential proximity and utility cost impacts. The proposal has not yet been introduced or approved, while Greenwood County has separately approved zoning restrictions and a one-year moratorium on data center development.

government zoning moratorium electricity water environmental

10/23/2026

News ClipNorthern Star Online·IL

Data Centers: Too costly for communities

The opinion article argues that data centers’ growing electricity and water consumption is raising utility costs and worsening environmental and public-health risks. It calls for stronger local and federal oversight to make data center operations more transparent and accountable.

electricity water environmental

10/23/2026

News Clip5:06Fox News·Memphis, Shelby County, TN

Memphis City Council Rejects 12-Month Data Center Moratorium, Approves Shorter Regulatory Pause

The Memphis City Council rejected a proposed 12-month moratorium on data center development but approved a shorter pause to develop local regulations. Councilman Jeff Warren said the city plans to use zoning rules to address pollution, water supply, and siting concerns, while residents called for stronger restrictions.

moratorium opposition government zoning environmental water

xAI

10/23/2026

News Clip2:02KWWL 7·Palo, Linn County, IA

Google Hosts Community Meeting on Proposed Data Center in Palo

Google held a community meeting about its proposed six-building data center campus in Palo, Iowa. Residents raised concerns about land, water use, noise and impacts on the local power grid, while Google said it would pay for required utility upgrades and hopes to begin construction in early 2026 if approved.

announcement opposition environmental electricity water government

Google

10/23/2026

News ClipWCPO 9 News·OH

Data centers become a flashpoint in Ohio's gubernatorial race. Here's what candidates and voters are thinking

Data centers have become a major issue in Ohio’s gubernatorial race, with candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Amy Acton calling for greater industry oversight. Voters and residents in communities including Wilmington, Mount Orab, Trenton and Cincinnati are concerned about electricity costs, water use, land rezoning and limited local employment benefits.

opposition electricity water government

10/23/2026

News Clip2:57CBS 8 San Diego·San Diego County, CA

Leaders push back against proposed 400-megawatt data center for NAVWAR site

San Diego leaders and community members are opposing a proposed 400-megawatt data center at the federally owned NAVWAR site near Old Town. Mayor Todd Gloria signed an executive order proposing a temporary moratorium on data center development while the city develops safeguards, with the measure scheduled for a City Council vote.

opposition moratorium government environmental electricity water announcement

10/23/2026

News ClipWACH.com·Jenkinsville, Fairfield County, SC

Fairfield County residents raise concerns about potential data centers near Jenkinsville

Fairfield County residents raised concerns about potential data centers near Jenkinsville, including environmental effects, water use, infrastructure costs and quality-of-life impacts. The county is under a 12-month data center moratorium and is considering an ordinance that could require reclaimed-water use, water recycling and developer-funded infrastructure.

opposition environmental moratorium water zoning government

10/23/2026

News ClipKOKH·Piedmont, Canadian County, OK

Piedmont data center plan advances as council delays final vote amid resident backlash

Piedmont City Council approved amended design conditions for the proposed Cloverleaf data center campus, including a 75,000-gallon-per-day water-use cap and a developer-funded water study. The council has not yet voted on the project itself, while residents continue to protest and a separate Beltline Energy proposal remains under review.

zoning opposition environmental government water

10/23/2026

News Clip1:13FOX Carolina News·Spartanburg County, SC

Data center ordinance in Spartanburg County passes first reading

Spartanburg County leaders gave a first reading to a development agreement for the Valara data center under construction along South Pine Street outside Spartanburg city limits. The proposed agreement would expand county oversight to air, water, noise and lighting impacts, while a previously approved one-year pause on new data centers remains in effect.

government environmental water moratorium

10/23/2026

News ClipWIFR·Freeport, Stephenson County, IL

Freeport meeting highlights data center impacts

Freeport residents discussed potential data center impacts on water supplies, electricity costs and the environment as development expands in Illinois. Monarch Energy is exploring a large data center in nearby Rockford, while Stephenson County officials consider regulations and advocates support the proposed POWER Act.

environmental electricity water government

10/23/2026

News Clip1:01CBS19·TX

Study warns Texas data center growth could threaten decades of air quality gains

A Houston Advanced Research Center study warns that Texas’ rapid data center expansion could reverse decades of air-quality improvements, particularly if facilities use on-site fossil-fuel generation. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has suspended its automated online permit filing system and is requiring physical applications while officials review data center impacts on water, power and permitting.

environmental government electricity water

10/23/2026

News ClipJuneau Independent·Sitka, Sitka City and Borough County, AK

Sitka planners vote down data centers for now

The Sitka Planning Commission voted 4-0 to recommend defining data centers in the city zoning code and prohibiting their development in all zones for now. The recommendation will go to the Sitka Assembly, amid concerns about energy and water consumption, environmental impacts, pollution and public safety.

zoning government electricity water opposition

10/23/2026

News Clip1:58WFSB 3·CT

Bill proposed to pause new data centers in Connecticut

Connecticut Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff is proposing a statewide moratorium on new data centers while lawmakers study their effects on water supplies, public health and the electric grid. The proposal follows local fights, including opposition to a planned data center in Colchester and a moratorium adopted in Mystic.

moratorium opposition water electricity government

10/23/2026

News ClipKCRG·Palo, Linn County, IA

Google gives insight into the Palo data center project and plans to break ground

Google plans to break ground on a six-building data center near Palo in early 2027, with the full project expected to be completed by 2031. The facility could use 10 million to 14 million gallons of water daily, while Google works with Palo and Linn County on environmental, traffic and infrastructure concerns.

announcement water environmental government

Google

10/23/2026