Updated
Updated · WDBJ · Jul 20
Virginia Water Authority Caps Google Data Center at 2 Million Gallons a Day
Updated
Updated · WDBJ · Jul 20

Virginia Water Authority Caps Google Data Center at 2 Million Gallons a Day

3 articles · Updated · WDBJ · Jul 20

Summary

  • The Western Virginia Water Authority said its only binding deal with Google limits the Botetourt County data center to an initial 2 million gallons of water a day.
  • The statement answered public concern by rejecting claims tied to a 10 million-11 million gallon proposal, which it said was floated in 2024 talks and fully turned down.
  • Under the 2025 utility service agreement, Google may later request up to 8 million gallons a day, but only if the authority can still meet current and future demand across its service area.
  • The authority said it now treats 21 million gallons daily and has previously handled 23 million, arguing existing customers' reliability remains its first priority.

Insights

Amid a historic drought, can new tech truly eliminate the water risks of massive data centers like Google's?
Google promises jobs, but what is the true long-term environmental cost for Botetourt County's water supply?
Beyond consuming water, is the massive waste heat from data centers an unaddressed threat to local communities?