Opposition to Proposed Data Centre Due to Water Security and Governance Risks

I oppose the proposed siting of this data centre at this location due to serious concerns about water security, environmental stewardship, and long‑term governance.

Calgary and the surrounding region have been experiencing recurring drought conditions, reduced mountain snowpack, and repeated water shortage advisories in recent years, prompting ongoing and prospective water restrictions. The City’s own drought planning and restriction frameworks acknowledge that river flows and source water are under increasing stress, requiring more conservative, resilience‑focused water management. In this context, introducing a large, continuous industrial water user such as a data centre is misaligned with the region’s stated goals of drought preparedness and sustainable water use.[1][2][3][4][5]

Data centres are recognized globally as significant water consumers, primarily for cooling, with even medium‑sized facilities using tens of millions of gallons of water annually. This demand often competes directly with municipal, agricultural, and ecosystem needs, especially during hot and dry periods when water supply is already constrained. When precipitation is low and snowpack is reduced, the priority must be maintaining secure water access for households, agriculture, and wildlife, rather than expanding high‑demand industrial uses.[6][7][8][9]

There is also a governance and ownership risk that has not been clearly addressed. Public discussion in Alberta has increasingly included scenarios related to greater provincial autonomy or even separation. In any scenario of constitutional or jurisdictional change, questions would arise about who ultimately owns, regulates, and benefits from this data centre, and who bears responsibility for its long‑term impacts on shared water resources. Approving a water‑intensive, strategic digital infrastructure asset without clear contingency planning for such governance questions is imprudent.[10][11][12]

For these reasons, this data centre should not be approved at this location. Water in this region must be reserved as a **priority** for people, communities, agriculture, and the ecosystems that depend on it, rather than for a discretionary, high‑intensity industrial user. Please do not proceed with this proposal and instead prioritize water security for living systems.

Sources
[1] Water Efficiency and Drought https://www.calgary.ca/water/drought.html
[2] Drought – Current conditions https://www.alberta.ca/drought-current-conditions
[3] Drought conditions lead City of Calgary to plan for water ... https://livewirecalgary.com/2023/12/21/drought-conditions-lead-city-of-calgary-to-plan-for-water-restrictions-in-2024/
[4] Understanding outdoor water restrictions https://www.calgary.ca/water/drought/outdoor-water-restrictions.html
[5] Changes to watering rules considered, but Calgary no ... https://ca.news.yahoo.com/changes-watering-rules-considered-calgary-205009053.html
[6] Data centre water consumption creates a global crisis https://www.cloudcomputing-news.net/news/data-centre-water-consumption-crisis/
[7] 'I can't drink the water' - life next to a US data centre https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8gy7lv448o
[8] Water infrastructure challenges in data centers - WSP https://www.wsp.com/en-ca/insights/the-overlooked-infrastructure-challenge-for-dc
[9] Data Centers and Water Consumption | Article | EESI https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/data-centers-and-water-consumption
[10] Alberta separatism plan is really about oil https://thenarwhal.ca/free-alberta-separation-oil/
[11] Report questions impact of major projects on First Nations ... https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/report-raises-questions-about-first-nations-ownership-in-major-projects/
[12] Alberta's Separation Question: What You Need to Know https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXchSVbY7qU
[13] Calgary Water Restrictions: Is This the New Normal? https://ucalgary.ca/sustainability/mobilizing-alberta/climate-action-blogs/calgary-water-restrictions
[14] Water worries in Alberta as Calgary rivers fall under ... https://calgary.citynews.ca/2025/09/23/calgary-river-shortage-advisories-bow-elbow/
[15] Calgary water restrictions: solutions to the crisis can be ... https://thenarwhal.ca/calgary-water-restrictions-global-solutions/