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In California water news this weekend …
Can an AI-guided robot help San Rafael resist sea level rise and sequester carbon?
“In the Northern California Bay Area, the weather has never pulled its punches. Storms pound the shorelines, king tides swallow streets and wind-driven wildfires blast through the forests. But the ocean and coasts in the region are bringing additional challenges, as rising sea levels push the waters of the bay higher and soil compaction sinks the land. By 2050, according to a NASA-led study, sea levels in California are projected to rise between 6 and 14.5 inches above the average of levels recorded in the last quarter of the past century. During the next 25 years, Bay Area sea levels could increase even more, by over 17 inches, which would especially affect the city of San Rafael, in Marin County, one of the lowest-lying areas along the bay shoreline. Due to the risks posed by the rising water levels, in 2023, the state of California enacted the Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plans (RSAP) to address sea level rise, build coastal resilience and support communities near the water. That initiative gave rise to the Sea Level Rise Collaborative Project (SLRCP) in San Rafael. “Sea level rise in San Rafael, especially in the Canal area—a predominantly immigrant neighborhood that is home to more than 10,000 Latinos sitting on the ingress of the Pacific—is a big problem,” said Chris Cogo, an environmental justice specialist who is part of the SLRCP Steering Committee, a team made up of residents and property owners. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
How the first major Pacific storm of the rainy season will impact California
“The first major Pacific storm of the wet season is forecast to wallop the West Coast next week, bringing widespread rain and a chance of thunderstorms to Northern California. Some Bay Area cities could record their wettest September day in decades. Showers will remain in the forecast Monday through at least Wednesday. The heaviest rain is expected along the North Coast, but downpours could strike anywhere from San Francisco to Sacramento. After a stubborn system brought a lightning storm to the Bay Area earlier this week, the weekend is predicted to begin dry and sunny. That will change Sunday as increasing high-level clouds precede the Pacific storm. Drizzle is possible in the Bay Area on Sunday night, but rain chances ramp up Monday as a cold front approaches Northern California. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
California lawmakers send weaker proposals for data centers to Gov. Newsom
“California lawmakers started the year signaling they were ready to get tough on data centers, aiming to protect the environment and electricity ratepayers. Nine months later, they have little to show for it. Of four data center bills in play, two never made it out of the Legislature, including one that would have required data centers to publicize their power use and another that would have provided incentives for them to use more clean energy. Two others are on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, but in substantially reduced form. One mandates disclosure of water use by data center operators, although now in a way that may elude public access. Another originally aimed to protect energy customers from shouldering infrastructure costs driven by data centers but now merely lets regulators figure out if that is happening. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Webinar to discuss California indoor water-use efficiency regulations Sept. 29
“In 2022, SB 1157 (Hertzberg) updated the indoor residential water-use standard and directed the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), in coordination with the State Water Board, to evaluate indoor residential water use and quantify impacts of the lower indoor residential water use standard on water supply, wastewater and recycled water systems. Until 2025, the standard for indoor residential water use was 55 gallons per capita daily. According to SB 1157, beginning Jan. 1, 2025, the standard is 47 gallons per capita daily until Jan. 1, 2030. Starting in May, a multi-university team began working with DWR to quantify benefits and impacts of achieving the indoor residential water-use standard by 2030 and inform its long-term implementation. … A public webinar to kick off this urban water project will be held on Monday, Sept. 29, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The webinar is open to the public. Water suppliers, local governments, community organizations, researchers and others who are interested are encouraged to attend this free webinar and follow this important work. … ” Read more from UC ANR.
Congressman Valadao joins bipartisan delegation to strengthen water infrastructure
“Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Reps. Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), Troy Carter (LA-02), and Brian Mast (FL-21) to reintroduce the Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act. This bipartisan legislation would fund upgrades to drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure and make them more resilient against threats ranging from cyberattacks to extreme weather. “In the Central Valley, clean and reliable water is critical to our farms, families, and small businesses, but aging infrastructure, extreme weather, and even cyber threats puts our water systems at risk,” said Congressman Valadao. “This bipartisan bill reauthorizes critical programs to increase our resiliency and ensure our utilities have the necessary resources to continue operations, and I’m proud to join my colleagues in support.” … ” Read more from Congressman Valadao.
180,000 Californians rely on federally backed flood insurance. Trump could overhaul the system
“More than half a million Californians live among waterways in low-lying towns of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, where 1,100 miles of levees made of dirt and rocks protect homes from nearby rivers. … [T]housands of homeowners in the region are insured against flooding thanks to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which backs policies sold by private insurers and gives her “peace of mind” that if another flood comes, she will be well covered. But the flood insurance program is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Trump administration says that agency is in need of a major overhaul. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said she wants to “eliminate FEMA as it exists today and streamline this bloated organization into a tool that actually benefits Americans in crisis.” The flood insurance program might even be eliminated, experts say. That leaves Bulahan and about 180,000 other California property owners in limbo. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Reforesting a fiery, warming world
“While many bird species are responding to global warming by gradually shifting their ranges northward to cooler and higher elevations, trees don’t have that luxury. “We humans need to step in and assist,” says CAL FIRE Statewide Reforestation Coordinator Topher Byrd, who directs a UC Davis tree seedbank and seedling nursery. CAL FIRE has been collecting native tree seeds from California forests since the 1970s, and more than 23 tons are now stored in a large walk-in freezer at the nursery. For decades, reforestation managers chose seed to grow seedlings for replanting by matching the target forest area with the same or a similar seed zone. But relying solely on these zones, without considering climate change, risks introducing trees that are maladapted to the place where they’re replanted. … ” Read more from Knee Deep Times.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
DWR awards Dr. Ellen Hanak for leadership in science-driven water policy
“As stewards of one of California’s most precious natural resources, DWR helps spearhead innovative water management practices throughout the state, often with women at the forefront. Wanting to celebrate the career achievements of women, DWR established the Sierra Nevada Phillips Award for Women in Water Resource Sciences in 2023. During the department’s first Water Resources Science Symposium held on September 23, the third annual Sierra Nevada Phillips Award was presented to Ellen Hanak, Ph.D. For almost 25 years, Dr. Hanak has adeptly navigated between science and policy on controversial and difficult water management challenges in California, including groundwater recharge, water affordability, and drought. Currently, Dr. Hanak is an adjunct fellow with the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) and is a founding director of PPIC’s Water Policy Center. DWR Director Karla Nemeth presented the award and acknowledged that Dr. Hanak was selected for her leadership in independent and rigorous analyses to inform water policy in California. … ” Read more from DWR.
Former Inland lawmaker David Kelley, who shaped California’s water policy, dies at 96
“David Kelley, a former Inland Empired state senator and assemblymember, Korean War veteran and citrus farmer admired for his work on water policy, has died. … A Republican, Kelley served in the Assembly from 1979 to 1992 and from 2000 to 2001. He was a state senator from 1993 to 2000 and during his time in Sacramento, represented districts from western Riverside County to the Coachella Valley and Imperial and San Diego counties. Kelley, who served on several water district boards, “was considered to be one of the state’s most knowledgeable and key water leaders,” read a synopsis of Kelley’s legislative career on the state library website. … ” Read more from the Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Podcasts …
WATER TALK: Water footprint of AI data centers
A conversation with Professor Melissa Scanlan (UW–Milwaukee Center for Water Policy and School of Freshwater Sciences) about data center water use, growth, and policy considerations.
VOICE OF SAN DIEGO: Uncharted waters
Next week the San Diego City council will vote on a series of new water rate increases. But city hall is abuzz that they may not have the votes to pass them. If they don’t, we’re entering uncharted waters.
KPBS ROUNDTABLE: Toxic legacy: How Tijuana River pollution ballooned across the borderlands
Pollution and trash from the Tijuana River Valley have impacted the San Diego-Tijuana border region for decades. New research shows that it’s not just the water that’s affected. Toxic materials are also degrading the region’s air quality. A panel of environment reporters in the San Diego-Tijuana region joins us to talk about the origins of the cross-border sewage crisis. How did it all start? We look into the Tijuana River Valley’s eco-history — and how its water and air came to be polluted.
ARIZONA POLITICAL: Former Arizona attorney general discusses state’s water future
My guest and I cover two topics on the AZ Political Podcast this week: the indictment of former FBI director James Comey and Arizona’s water future. The CAP is a 330-mile system of canals, aqueducts and pipelines that supply Colorado River water to Arizona’s most populated regions. Arizona is hoping to get a larger slice of the Colorado River’s water as the state sits down to negotiate with six other states for that precious resource. Surprisingly, California is not our biggest rival in this water fight. They’re actually more of an ally. You’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out which state is trying to “hose” Arizona.
BOILING POINT: Trump’s environmental rollbacks explained
Sammy Roth talks with Los Angeles Times environment reporter Hayley Smith about the Trump administration’s regulatory rollbacks, the misinformation driving them, and what they mean for the future of climate action.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING: RSS Discovery
Captain Albert Scott wanted to overwinter in the Antarctica for the first time so the strongest ship of its time, The Discovery, was built in Dundee, Scotland. How did the discoveries of Captain Scott and the Discovery exemplify the value of water? Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Stephen Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Salmon triumph: First leap over Keno Dam in over 100 years
“A Chinook salmon was seen ascending the fish ladder at Keno Dam on the upper Klamath River, marking a significant milestone since the removal of four hydroelectric dams last year. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), this is the first time a salmon has been captured on video successfully passing the dam. The video, captured by cameras installed by ODFW and the Bureau of Reclamation, shows the salmon leaping the final pool of the ladder. This achievement is crucial as most spawning habitats are found above Keno Dam and other barriers. “Salmon are again reminding us of their resiliency as they return to a portion of river basin that hasn’t seen salmon for more than 100 years,” said Phil Milburn, ODFW Watershed Manager. “That salmon have so quickly shown us they can pass this key barrier renews our sense of optimism for this population.” … ” Read more from Channel 12.
SEE ALSO: Video captures salmon return at Keno Dam fish ladder after Klamath River dam removals, from Central Oregon Daily
CDFW cites five individuals in Siskiyou County for illegal suction dredge mining
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has cited five individuals in separate incidents for unlawful possession and use of suction dredge equipment in state waterways, in violation of Fish and Game Code (FGC) section 5653(e). Suction dredging is harmful to native fish and wildlife habitat, making it difficult for native species to thrive and creating favorable conditions for invasive species. On Aug. 20, 2024, CDFW officers cited one individual after discovering he was actively operating a suction dredge on the Salmon River near Cecilville. The person admitted to using the dredge to recover gold and other minerals and provided paperwork showing a partnership related to the activity. Officers issued a citation in the field and seized the mechanized portion of his dredge. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife. As a reminder, possession of a vacuum or suction dredge in areas in or within 100 yards of waters that are closed to the use of vacuum or suction dredges remains illegal in California. No partnership, membership or business relationship provides an exemption from this prohibition. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Volunteers revitalized a meadow and creek for Tahoe Forest Stewardship Day
“Families, colleagues, friends, and classmates gathered at the Lam Watah Trailhead in Stateline, Nevada over the weekend to get their hands dirty revitalizing the native ecosystems at Rabe Meadow and Burke Creek. The group of 90 volunteers were joined by staff from Keep Tahoe Blue and the Nevada Tahoe Conservation District (NTCD) to work on a range of restoration projects, from invasive weed pulling to building beaver dam analogs. The day’s projects were part of Keep Tahoe Blue’s 28th annual Tahoe Forest Stewardship Day, as well as the Great Sierra River Cleanup and Latino Conservation Week. Kanyon Penn, a student with South Tahoe High School, took part with a group of classmates. He was energized by the large group of volunteers in his first experience with Keep Tahoe Blue. “It was great seeing everyone’s faces and seeing the big crowd of people hyped up and ready to do some work out here. Not enough people around my age are coming out. I hope more will,” said Penn. … ” Read more from Tahoe Daily Tribune.
North Yuba Forest Partnership advances wildfire risk reduction near Camptonville and New Bullards Bar Reservoir
“The North Yuba Forest Partnership, nine organizations committed to collaboratively planning, funding and implementing forest restoration across the North Yuba River watershed, announced that wildfire risk reduction treatments will begin near the community of Camptonville and New Bullards Bar Reservoir. Following the Tahoe National Forest’s signing of the Record of Decision for Subproject Area #2 of the North Yuba Landscape Resilience Project (NYLRP), implementation is now cleared to begin within this priority area. The NYLRP spans 275,000 acres and represents one of the largest landscape-scale vegetation and fuels management efforts in the Sierra Nevada. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Community flocks to Oroville Salmon Festival for fish, cars and local fun
“From car shows to hatchery tours, the 2025 Oroville Salmon Festival was in full swing Saturday in Downtown Oroville and the Feather River Fish Hatchery. The festival, which began in 1997, saw people flock to the fish hatchery on Table Mountain Boulevard, where the line for the fish hatchery tour began pouring onto the nearby parking lot. Booths for local organizations, such as Cal Fire, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and more lined the surrounding area. Mary Noel, the Feather River Fish Hatchery manager, said that the festival is both a celebration of the salmon’s return to the area as well as a way to educate people on the work that they do. “A lot of people don’t have salmon that run up their river system,” Noel said. “It’s great to let people know in this area about the salmon run and just how much of the natural resources are actually happening in this area.” … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
BAY AREA
Ross moves forward with storm drain project
“A major flooding project in Ross has gone out to bid. The project is intended to reduce flooding along Bolinas Avenue by replacing a storm drain with a bigger one. The Town Council unanimously approved the project’s environmental report at its meeting on Sept. 11. The Bolinas Avenue area has a history of flooding during five-year storms, or the kind of severe storms that have a 20% chance of occurring in any given year. While an earlier project addressed some flooding, a second phase would address even more, Public Works Director Richard Simonitch said. In 2019, the town completed a project to install a 48-inch storm drain mainline along Bolinas Avenue between Richmond Road and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. The improvements ended at the intersection of Bolinas Avenue and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
CENTRAL COAST
Guadalupe races to repair failed water monitoring system
“City leaders in Guadalupe have declared a public facilities emergency after a partial failure in the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system: the technology that monitors the city’s water and sewer operations. During the Sept. 23 council meeting, City Attorney Philip Sinco explained the action was needed because the system “could fail at any time” and there was no way to measure when another breakdown might occur. The emergency declaration allows the city to bypass competitive bidding and hire a contractor immediately to replace the system. During the Sept. 23 council meeting, City Attorney Philip Sinco explained the action was needed because the system “could fail at any time” and there was no way to measure when another breakdown might occur. … ” Read more from KSBY.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Diablo Grande residents say fines, water bills are adding up amid water crisis
Residents there are facing sky-high water bills and the chance they could lose their supply altogether. Now they’re moving to recall their HOA board.
Modesto Irrigation director, accused of stealing water, blames political conspiracy
“In his first public comments since facing allegations of water theft, Modesto Irrigation District Director Larry Byrd said during Tuesday’s board meeting that the claims are a conspiracy to hurt him politically. An independent investigation into Byrd’s water use at an almond orchard near La Grange, first reported Sept. 15 in The Modesto Focus, is moving forward, MID General Manager Jimi Netniss said Tuesday. Byrd said, “I completely support (it) and will fully cooperate.” Two weeks earlier, three critics had publicly urged Byrd to address rumors that MID surface water has nourished more than 100 acres of his almonds outside district boundaries, prompting MID Board President Bob Frobose to commission the investigation. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
EASTERN SIERRA
LADWP celebrates Second Annual Mono Lake Day with continued commitment to environmental stewardship
“The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) today observed the second annual Mono Lake Day, celebrated on September 28, to recognize more than 30 years of environmental stewardship and success in balancing natural resource protection with urban water needs. Mono Lake Day honors the 1994 State Water Resources Control Board Decision 1631, which established protections for Mono Lake and is considered one of California’s most significant environmental success stories. Since 1994, LADWP has invested nearly $50 million in enhancing the ecosystem, wildlife and recreation in the broader Mono Basin. These efforts include restoring approximately 20 miles of streams, including over 800 acres of wetlands, and numerous habitat enhancement projects. Additionally, LADWP has reduced water exports from the Mono Basin by 85%, balancing the needs of the environment with the human right to water. … ” Read more from LADWP.
Tracking phalaropes tagged at Mono Lake
“On a string of August nights, a team of researchers from the science non-profit Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge* successfully captured, tagged, and released seven Red-necked Phalaropes and four Wilson’s Phalaropes at Mono Lake. Ten of the 11 birds have been detected by the Mono Lake Motus arrays so far. Even more thrilling, four individuals have already departed the lake and their journeys are unfolding in real time. This effort, years in the making, marks another significant moment in our understanding of how these migratory birds use Mono Lake as a stopover site and where they go next. However, tagging phalaropes isn’t easy—they are wary birds that spend most of their time on open water and are skilled at evading capture. For years, researchers attempted to catch them with limited success, but this year, everything came together. Using hand nets from a boat under the cover of darkness, the team finally cracked the code. It was a hard-earned success that involved long hours, careful timing, and quite a bit of lake-bound patience. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
This SoCal water was once bottled and sold. Now it’s returning to nature.
“If there’s one thing most outsiders know about Los Angeles, it’s that water is often scarce in the drought-stricken region. Fights and political jostling over water rights have shaped much of Southern California’s history, and water availability has been at the center of a century of development and industry in what is now the nation’s most populated county. As population and development pressures grew in the early 1900s, the once-wild Los Angeles River was channelized in concrete, private landowners constructed dams to keep more water for themselves and entrepreneurial developers sold off access to private lakes. But a recent purchase of a natural water source in a wealthy corner of Los Angeles bucks this trend. Instead of grand plans to make a profit from the rare spring, a local conservation group purchased the site just to leave it alone. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Will LA County get federal funding to better prepare for future wildfires?
“Elected officials from Los Angeles County are seeking to remedy issues that contributed to delayed alert notifications and confusion over evacuation orders during the Eaton and Palisades wildfires that swept through Los Angeles County in January, after a report this week found a “series of weaknesses” in the county’s emergency-alert system. It’s unclear how much money would be needed to make the various upgrades and investments called for in the report, or where the funding would come from. But at a time when California, and Los Angeles in particular, has been in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump or Republicans in Congress, it raises the question of whether L.A. County can rely on federal support. … ” Read more from the Daily News.
In SoCal, oyster shells are being recycled to protect the coastline
“California’s dramatic Pacific coastline is arguably the state’s most valuable asset, but erosion and rising sea levels are causing that coastline to crumble ever more rapidly into the ocean. One effort to slow down that process starts with dinner scraps. … At the Bluewater Grill in Newport Beach, a worker lugs a large plastic storage bin out of the kitchen and into the back of Kaysha Kenney’s minivan. We take a peek inside the bin. It’s full of oyster shells. This pickup is the first phase of a project led by Kenney’s group Orange County Coastkeeper. The goal is to use the shells to restore the once abundant oyster beds along the coast and, by doing that, protect the shoreline from erosion and rising seas. They’ve been doing it since 2024. … ” Read more from NPR.
Upper Newport Bay gives visitors up close look at unique habitat
“Nature and beauty abound in the Upper Newport Bay in Newport Beach. Whether it’s bird watching, hiking, kayaking or horseback riding, there’s something available for everyone, even those who just want to enjoy beautiful scenery. The area, referred to as Upper Newport Bay or the Back Bay, covers 135 acres. It is managed by a collection of cities and government agencies that oversee the nature preserve with several trails, the ecological reserve that includes the estuary and the surrounding area. … Upper Newport Bay is one of California’s few remaining coastal salt marshes and supports several rare and endangered species such as Ridgway’s rail and the California gnatcatcher, which depend on its unique ecosystems, said Danielle Kennedy, spokesperson for OC Parks. If that’s not enough, thousands of birds flying south along the Pacific Flyway, a migratory route that extends from Alaska to South America, stop by during the winter. … ” Read more and check out pictures from the OC Register.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego’s water department is not alright
“Amid handwringing at San Diego City Hall over next week’s vote to hike water rates, city analysts dropped a harrowing report revealing how easily the department that handles water and wastewater could collapse without them. There are whispers that Mayor Todd Gloria’s administration is struggling to get the votes to pass a four-year proposed 63 percent rate hike and 31 percent wastewater rate hike Tuesday. But the city’s independent budget analysts sharply warned against doing anything that would starve the Public Utilities Department of more revenue. “At this point, any decrease in revenue due to either approvals of a lower rate increase, delays in the rate increase, or not approving the rate increase at all will require significant reductions to the operating expenses of the water system,” analysts wrote in their report released Friday. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Along the Colorado River …
As Colorado River negotiations near a critical deadline, a new way of looking at risk is revealing hard choices
“After four years of contentious negotiations, the seven states that rely on water from the Colorado River are racing against the clock to reach agreement on a new long-term operating strategy for the river’s dams and reservoirs. They face a Nov. 11 deadline from U.S. Interior Department officials to signal whether they think a deal among them is likely. This is a high-stakes moment on the Colorado: Some 40 million people, 5.5 million acres of farmland and a $1.4 trillion economy depend on water from the river. But the double whammy of climate change and a now-quarter-century-long drought has strained relationships between the seven states that share the dwindling river. Over the past two decades, scientists, engineers and water managers have invested tremendous effort in trying to deduce what the future might bring. They have used reconstructions of climate patterns stretching more than 1,200 years into the past to understand natural variability, and turned to global models to better grasp the potential impacts of climate change. … ” Read more from Western Water.
He had big ambitions for this Southern Nevada town. Then the river ran dry
“Ed Ringle has big ideas for the small enclave of Beatty. He also has the land and water to see those ideas to fruition — a rarity in the driest state in the nation with the least percentage of private land. The 73-year-old is perhaps most recognizable as the baby face and namesake of the EddieWorld gas station in Beatty and Yermo, California, halfway between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Memorials to, or reminders of, Ringle’s big ideas can be found throughout the town of Beatty, from the unfinished steampunk Exchange Club casino to a sign for “El Sueño,” or “The Dream” in Spanish — another casino he never got around to building. But one recent construction project has caught the attention of state regulators and ruffled more than a few feathers in the community, which is at the headwaters of the little-known Amargosa River system. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Commentary: Arizona’s water future – ‘Ag to Urban’ is a good start
Bruce Babbitt, former governor of Arizona, and former U.S. secretary of the interior under President Bill Clinton, writes, “As the drought extends its grip across Arizona, we are flooded with stories of the impending crisis — Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson and other cities are running short of water for future growth and development. Arizona now faces a hydrologic zero-sum calculation. More water for home building and industry will mean less water use in other sectors. The other sector most affected will be agriculture, for one reason: agriculture uses fully 72% of Arizona’s annual water supply. Arizona has at last begun to deal with this zero-sum reality. In July, the Legislature passed, and Governor Katie Hobbs signed, an unprecedented law to authorize the transfer of groundwater rights from agricultural to urban use within Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties. … ” Read more from Arizona Capital Times.
Phoenix data center water use could jump 900% in 6 years, study says
“Quietly but quickly, Phoenix has become one of the nation’s hotspots for a booming economic and technological phenomenon of late-stage capitalism: data centers — the boxy, sprawling farms of wire and silicon going up everywhere around the Valley. Some of Arizona’s leaders have championed the economic benefits of the large facilities, which house networks of servers, storage devices and other equipment used to process and disseminate huge amounts of data. But others are ringing alarm bells that the cost to feed these techno-futurist factories is simply too high — and the rewards are reaped by too few. Those alarms were underscored by a new study from environmental nonprofit Ceres that was released on Tuesday. … The study’s conclusions are jarring at first glance. It found that in the next six years in Phoenix, water used by data centers to cool their technology will jump from 385 million gallons a year to 3.7 billion per year — an increase approaching 900%. It also concluded that in the Valley, the water used indirectly (such as to generate electricity to power the facilities) will jump from 2.9 billion to 14.5 billion gallons. … ” Read more from New Times SLO.
