Unanimous Vote, Divided City: Temple Greenlights Rowan Data Center Water Plan

Despite drought concerns, the Temple City Council approves a water service agreement with a data center.

Temple Reaches Water Agreement with Rowan Data Center

In a 4-0 unanimous vote, the Temple City Council approved a water usage service agreement for the Rowan Data Center campus in South Temple. The vote followed a heated public hearing where local residents voiced deep concern about water security and environmental transparency.

The Numbers Behind the Deal

The agreement outlines a specific water-usage framework. According to KXXV, the data center will utilize a closed-loop cooling system, which requires a one-time "fill" of approximately 1 to 2 million gallons of water. Once operational, the facility’s daily utility usage is strictly capped at 4,000 gallons. According to Rowan, the system does not require a continuous, heavy supply of water to function.

Public Concern Over the Use of Lake Belton Water

The City Council vote is not setting well with many Temple residents. As we approach a scorching hot Texas summer, Temple residents point to a receding Belton Lake that only recieved one day of rain last month.

Resident Concerns: "The Fine Print"

While a closed loop cooling system sounds good, members of the "Stop Temple Data Centers" Facebook group argued that the city might be "glossing over" the long-term reality of hot Texas weather. A primary point of contention discussed in the group involves an 84-degree threshold. Rowan said the closed loop system does not use additional water until the temperature hits 84 degrees. Texas can see 84+ degrees in the winter.

Moving Forward

City officials emphasized that the agreement was reached after extensive negotiations to ensure "no fluff" in the usage numbers. While the utility plan is now official, residents continue to call for greater transparency.