Google Commits $10 Million to Texas Water Projects as Data Center Expansion Draws Scrutiny
Google will invest $10 million in water infrastructure projects across Texas communities where it plans to build data centers, the company announced Wednesday. The commitment marks the first major corporate effort to address water concerns tied to the state's data center boom, though critics say the amount falls short of the scale needed.
The company also pledged to replenish more water than its data centers consume by 2030 and to publicly report water usage figures. Google plans to invest $40 billion in data center development across Texas through 2027.
The Water Problem
Data centers consume massive amounts of water to cool computing equipment. Google's single facility in Midlothian, Texas used 182.3 million gallons of water in 2024 - equivalent to 276 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The University of Texas recently projected that data center water demand could balloon to 22 times current levels by 2040, potentially consuming 9 percent of the state's total water supply. Texas already faces significant water stress from drought and competing agricultural demands.
Perry Fowler, executive director of the Texas Water Infrastructure Network, dismissed the $10 million as inadequate. "It may help one little town with their system, but if you're talking about any significant investment in infrastructure, that's a drop in the bucket," he said.
What Google Is Doing Differently
Google committed to avoiding evaporative cooling - the cheapest but most water-intensive cooling method - at its new Texas data centers. Instead, the company will use air-cooling systems that require significantly less water.
The company already operates two data centers in Texas and has at least six more under development, mostly around Dallas-Fort Worth. One proposed facility in Gray County would tap the stressed Ogallala Aquifer, which supplies the Texas Panhandle.
Google said it will work with local nonprofits and water agencies to distribute the $10 million, though it has not yet announced specific projects. The company declined to disclose how much it has already spent on water initiatives across the state.
Political Pressure Mounting
Texas Republican leaders have largely backed the data center boom for its economic potential, but opposition is growing in rural communities. In May, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller called for a temporary moratorium on new data centers, citing impacts on water, electricity, and agricultural land.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows have directed lawmakers to study data center water and energy demands before the 2027 legislative session. The Texas Water Development Board is expected to release data center water-use projections next year.
Brendan Steinhauser, a Texas GOP strategist, said Google's water commitment, while positive, won't resolve community concerns. "I don't think it's enough," he said.
Data Gaps Persist
Data centers have never been required to report water use to the state. The Texas Public Utility Commission asked for voluntary disclosure this spring for the first time, prompted by the Legislature.
Google said it publicly reports only direct water consumption at its facilities. The company is still assessing how much water its data centers use indirectly through energy production.
Vanessa Puig-Williams of the Environmental Defense Fund praised Google's replenishment pledge but called for more aggressive investment. "In these very arid regions, every drop counts," she said.
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