Long-delayed report warns of aquifer declines
Virginia has released a long-delayed state-commissioned study that examined the eastern region’s groundwater supply and the data center industry’s possible impact on it. The report, produced by environmental scientists, found that declines are likely in a critical aquifer due to population growth and industrial use, according to the Associated Press.
The study said regulators should have more authority to reject industrial water withdrawal permits, force entities to examine alternative sources of water and clamp down on users who might be using more water than they should be. The report noted limits on publicly available information about data center water use but did not lay blame with the industry for the concerns it raised about the aquifer, AP reported.
The state had refused to release the study for more than six months, AP reported. Its publication comes amid a broader reassessment of the data center industry’s relationship with Virginia’s water resources.
The report’s release also follows new regulations taking effect in January 2027 that will require waterworks operators to break out data center water use separately in their monthly reporting, though information on specific facilities is still protected as a trade secret.
The study’s recommendations align with concerns raised by regional planners and the state’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission about the lack of mandatory, facility-level water use reporting. The analysis underscored substantial uncertainty stemming from the absence of such reporting, reinforcing calls for explicit disclosure and accounting of data center water use within permitting frameworks.
Researchers have warned that drought-related supply risks are likely to intensify as regional hydroclimatic conditions continue to change. Virginia has historically been characterized as a relatively water-rich state, shaped by its humid Mid-Atlantic climate, abundant surface waters and substantial groundwater resources.