Similarly, representatives from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) point out that the Trinity Aquifer, another key water source in Central Texas, has been in decline over the past decade. “Shallow soils and steep hill slopes make for rapid runoff, which provides less opportunity for groundwater recharge,” they explain. “While surface water reservoirs capture some runoff, high evaporation rates from high temperatures and low humidity reduce available supply even as we save it for later use.”
So, are AI data centers even viable in Central Texas? It ultimately depends on how well tech companies balance technological needs with ecological realities. As these facilities will require substantial water in an area that’s already wrung dry, the first priority of any strategic planner or field engineer working in water-sensitive regions should be to understand the regulatory landscape and address community concerns.
Unpacking water rights and regulatory challenges
Water management in Texas presents unique challenges for data center development, as the state’s “rule of capture” doctrine allows landowners significant pumping rights with minimal restrictions. But in areas like the Edwards Aquifer, where groundwater directly feeds surface water systems like the San Marcos River, this approach increasingly conflicts with conservation needs. As Parker notes, “Without that aquifer having enough water in it, we’re not going to have a river. That’s going to impact not only the environment and species that depend on the river, but communities downstream that depend on it for drinking water.”
