Utah Passes Water Reporting Law for New Large Data Centers
Utah lawmakers have approved a bill requiring new large data centers to report annual water use to state officials. The law targets facilities over 10,000 square feet that consume at least 75 acre-feet of water annually, addressing concerns over high water usage in the state. The requirement applies to data centers established on or after July 1, 2026, and aims to balance economic growth with responsible water management. The law will take effect in May, pending the governor's approval by March 26.

Utah's legislature has enacted a requirement for new large data centers, defined as those at least 10,000 square feet using at least 75 acre-feet of water annually, to report their water usage. This move is in response to growing scrutiny over water consumption in the state, which is the second driest in the U.S.
Notably, the NSA data center in Bluffdale reportedly uses 23 million gallons of water monthly. The law will apply only to data centers established after July 1, 2026. It is subject to the governor's approval by March 26, with implementation set for May.




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