Water Usage

Summary

Hyperscale data centers are among the most water-intensive industrial facilities in operation. Project Tango's proposed 3.69 million square foot facility is estimated to consume approximately 1.7 million gallons of water per month — primarily for evaporative cooling systems that prevent server overheating. In a region already managing water scarcity, population growth, and environmental pressures, this consumption poses a direct threat to Palm Beach County's water supply.

How Data Centers Use Water

Modern data centers generate enormous amounts of heat. Thousands of high-performance processors running AI workloads produce thermal energy that must be continuously dissipated. The most common cooling method is evaporative cooling, which works by passing water through cooling towers where it evaporates, absorbing heat in the process.

For every megawatt of IT power, a typical data center consumes between 1.8 and 7.0 million gallons of water annually, depending on climate and efficiency. South Florida's hot, humid climate means higher cooling demands for more months of the year, pushing consumption toward the upper end of this range.

Palm Beach County's Water Challenges

Palm Beach County relies primarily on the Surficial Aquifer System and the Biscayne Aquifer for its freshwater supply. These sources are already under stress from:

• Population growth: Palm Beach County's population has grown by over 10% in the past decade, increasing residential demand.
• Agricultural competition: The region's significant agricultural sector, including sugar cane and vegetable farming, draws heavily from the same aquifers.
• Saltwater intrusion: Rising sea levels and over-pumping are causing saltwater to migrate inland into freshwater aquifers, reducing available supply.
• Drought cycles: Florida experiences periodic droughts that stress water reserves, particularly during the dry season (November through May).

The South Florida Water Management District has implemented water restrictions during drought periods. Adding an industrial consumer using 1.7 million gallons monthly creates a permanent, inflexible demand that does not adjust during water emergencies.

The Scale of Consumption

To put 1.7 million gallons per month in perspective:

• The average Florida household uses approximately 9,000 gallons per month
• 1.7 million gallons could supply roughly 189 homes every month
• Over a year, that is 20.4 million gallons — enough to fill more than 30 Olympic swimming pools
• This consumption is continuous, 24/7, 365 days per year — it does not decrease during droughts

As AI workloads intensify and the facility scales to full capacity, water consumption is likely to increase beyond initial estimates. Google reported that its global data center water consumption increased 20% in a single year (2022-2023) due to AI demand growth.

Environmental Impact on Local Waterways

The water discharged from cooling towers contains elevated concentrations of dissolved minerals, treatment chemicals, and thermal energy. This "blowdown" water must be disposed of, typically through wastewater systems or direct discharge. In either case, it can affect local water quality and aquatic ecosystems.

The proposed site is adjacent to canal systems connected to the broader Everglades watershed. Any disruption to local hydrology — through excessive withdrawals or discharge of warm, chemically treated water — could impact this sensitive ecosystem.

No Meaningful Public Review

The original 2016 zoning approval for "data warehouse" use did not contemplate the water demands of a hyperscale data processing facility. The community had no opportunity to evaluate or comment on water consumption projections because the true nature of the facility was not disclosed until 2025.

What the Staff Report Confirms

The official county staff report (DOA/ZV-2025-01602) validates and expands upon these concerns:

• 314.3 ERC reserved (1 ERC = 5,600 gallons/month), totaling approximately 1.76 million gallons per month — confirming the coalition's estimate of 1.7 million gallons.
• The cooling method has not been determined. Grey water usage is described as "if feasible," not a firm commitment.
• Wastewater not accepted by Palm Beach County Water Utilities would require deep well injection, described by staff as "a considerable investment."
• Concurrency Reservation has not yet been approved — the actual water demand could change.

Read the full staff report analysis for more details.

What the Developer Claims

In February 2026, the developer launched a PR website and fact sheet claiming the facility will use "about 5,000 gallons of water per day — roughly the amount used by one busy restaurant." They describe a "closed-loop cooling system that recirculates the same water repeatedly" with "zero water consumption from evaporation."

This claim conflicts with the developer's own county filings in several important ways:

• The 5,000 gal/day figure is 11x lower than the 56,600 gal/day implied by the 314.3 ERC allocation in the staff report
• The cooling method remains undetermined in county filings — the "closed-loop" claim in the fact sheet is not reflected in any binding document
• If the developer truly needs only 5,000 gal/day, they would not need 314.3 ERCs of reserved water capacity. The ERC allocation reserves enough for evaporative cooling — the far more water-intensive technology
• Dry cooling (closed-loop) is less efficient in South Florida's hot, humid climate, creating a strong economic incentive to switch to evaporative cooling after approval

The community should demand that any approval include binding water consumption limits matching the developer's stated projections, with penalties for exceeding them. If the 5,000 gal/day claim is genuine, the developer should welcome this condition.

Read our detailed analysis of the water discrepancy and our fact-check of the developer's PR claims.

What You Can Do

Demand that Palm Beach County require a comprehensive water impact assessment before any further approvals. Stand with your neighbors and attend the July 15, 2026 hearing to protect our community's water resources. Keep your purchase agreement, marketing materials, and HOA disclosures in a safe place — they may be important for building our case.