Texas Governor’s Directive on Water Usage Reporting for Data Centers
Governor Greg Abbott has instructed the Texas Water Development Board to take action against data centers that neglect to report their water usage. This move comes after state records indicated that many of these facilities have overlooked a mandatory survey for several years.
According to reports, Abbott’s directive follows a concerning trend in compliance: fewer than 30 percent of data centers participated in the water usage survey last year, with the response rates dropping as low as 28 percent over the past three years. He is requesting a status update from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) regarding compliance measures by mid-October.
“Data centers must share the duty to protect Texas water,” Abbott emphasized. “The Texas Water Code mandates a complete and accurate water use survey. I have directed the Texas Water Development Board to apply enforcement measures to address past non-compliance and to impose legal consequences for future violations.”
Since 2020, the TWDB has conducted yearly surveys on data centers and industrial facilities, requesting monthly water usage figures. While state law stipulates that facilities must respond or face a Class C misdemeanor, the agency admits it doesn’t have the authority to prosecute. Instead, that responsibility lies with local officials, including district attorneys. TWDB representatives noted in July that they do not keep track of how many fines have been imposed, if any.
The board stated it aims to “compel all water users” to adhere to the regulations, underlining the necessity for detailed data: “TWDB is tasked with creating a state water plan that caters to the needs of Texans, which cannot be developed without comprehensive information on current and projected water use.”
The survey is distributed by mail to around 4,700 municipal water systems and 3,200 industrial facilities, including data centers that consume over 10 million gallons annually, classified as “significant industrial users.” The survey collects information on annual water volume, the source of the water, and whether facilities generate their power on-site. Notably, it does not inquire about cooling technologies, historically the main contributor to water usage in these facilities.
The number of data centers being surveyed has surged. Between 2020 and 2022, the TWDB surveyed less than five data centers annually, with all responding. However, in 2023, the agency reached out to 22 centers, receiving a response from only 32 percent. The following year, that number increased to 67 facilities, but the response rate dropped to 28 percent. In 2024, 329 data centers were surveyed, with nearly 30 percent responding, yet just 22.5 percent of the new entries to the tracking system replied.
In the latest survey, significant water users among data centers included a Bitdeer facility in Rockdale, a Google facility in Midlothian, a QTS facility in Fort Worth, and another Meta facility also located in Fort Worth. The Bitdeer facility alone reportedly consumes more than 300 million gallons a year, which is comparable to the water usage of a small Texas town with about 3,500 residents. The majority of the state’s data centers are situated in North Texas, where water consumption is highest.
Additionally, Abbott has ordered the TWDB to collaborate with the Public Utility Commission of Texas, water utilities, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) on an audit concerning data centers attempting to connect to the power grid. This audit, initiated by Abbott in August, aims to gather insights on water consumption, sources, and the cooling technologies utilized by these facilities. Projects failing the audit will not be allowed grid connections under the governor’s orders.
