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BIG DATA DAMAGEThe Texas Data Center Watchdog

By location

Is a data center near you?

We're tracking the Texas cities, counties, and aquifers where data centers are hitting landowners hardest. Find yours.

Hotspot map

Where the fight is

Tap a marker to open that community.

Map layers
  • Proposed
  • Permitted
  • Under construction
  • Operating
  • Community we cover
  • Water service area
  • County line
  • Groundwater district (approx.)

By the numbers

Data centers and Texas water, measured

Our original analysis of where Texas data centers land relative to the public water systems Texans depend on. Every figure is sourced and reproducible — use it, cite it.

92
data centers tracked across Texas
Big Data Damage facility tracker — each entry source-linked
65
fall inside a mapped public water-supply service area
Overlay vs. USGS Public-Supply Water Service Areas (2017)
16
public water systems have a tracked data center in their territory
Distinct USGS service areas containing ≥1 tracked facility
6.97M
Texans are served by those 16 water systems
Combined USGS population-served figures for those systems
27
sit outside any mapped service area — typically well-reliant land
Tracked facilities with no overlapping USGS service area
52
fall inside a groundwater conservation district's jurisdiction
Overlay vs. TWDB groundwater conservation districts (approximate, 2019)

Where the 92 tracked facilities draw their water

Inside a public water system, a facility shares a supply with surrounding homes and farms. Outside one, the surrounding land typically relies on private groundwater wells.

Inside a public water-supply service area65
Outside any mapped area (private wells / groundwater)27

The 92 tracked facilities by status

Updated as our discovery pipeline confirms new public records. See every facility in the tracker below.

Operating37
Under construction41
Permitted2
Proposed12

Methodology

How we measured this

We took the coordinates of every data center in our tracker and tested, point-by-point, which ones fall inside a mapped public water-supply service area — and, separately, inside a groundwater conservation district's jurisdiction. Population figures are the total each affected water system reports serving. Analysis last computed August 19, 2026.

Sources

What these numbers do and don't mean

  • Shared supply, not consumption: a facility falling inside a water system's territory means it shares that public supply — it is not a measure of how much water the data center itself draws.
  • The USGS service-area layer reflects 2017 boundaries; some systems have changed since.
  • Our tracker is a curated, source-linked inventory of known Texas data centers, not an exhaustive census of every facility in the state.
  • Population figures are the total served by each water system, not the number of people affected by a data center.
  • Groundwater conservation district boundaries (TWDB/TCEQ) are approximate, reflect 2019 data, and do not represent legal jurisdictional descriptions — confirm a parcel's district with the district directly.

For journalists & researchers

Cite this analysis

Free to cite and republish with attribution (CC BY 4.0). Working on a story? Reach us at 214-206-3377.

Big Data Damage. (2026). Texas Data Center Water Impact Analysis. https://www.bigdatadamage.com/locations

Last updated August 19, 2026.

Local action

Texas local pauses and bans on data centers

Some Texas cities and counties have paused or banned new data centers.

Others voted and failed.

Cities hold more zoning power than most counties.

Rural county pauses can face lawsuits and fast repeals.

See verified actions below.

Then read your rights as a Texas landowner.

For a free, confidential review, contact us.

Or call 214-206-3377.

Verified Texas local pauses and bans on data centers
DateLocalityActionStatusSource
Feb 2026Hood CountyMoratorium vote(s)RejectedGranbury hub
May 2026Hill CountyOne-year pause adoptedLater repealedHill legislation
~May 21, 2026Harlingen (Cameron)120-day city moratoriumTemporary; extension reported Aug 2026Harlingen hub
June 5, 2026Hill CountyPause repealed; checklist adoptedRepealedHill legislation
June 16, 2026San MarcosCitywide zoning ban (4–3)In effectSan Marcos legislation
June 23, 2026Hays CountyWater-protection review pause through Dec 31, 2026Temporary pauseSan Marcos hub

Verified rows only. Harlingen: check the city for current status after the reported Aug 2026 extension process. No Ector County ordinance row.

Frequently asked questions

What is a data center moratorium in Texas?

A temporary local pause on new projects while officials study rules. A zoning ban can be longer lasting. County power is limited.

Which Texas localities have verified pauses or bans?

Hill County adopted then repealed a pause. San Marcos banned data centers by zoning. Harlingen and Hays County used temporary pauses. Hood County rejected a pause. See Hill County legislation and San Marcos ban.

Did Ector County pass a data center moratorium?

We do not yet have a verified Ector County ordinance. Do not treat statewide grid audits as a local Ector pause. Check primary county records before relying on rumors.

Can my Texas county ban data centers the same way a city can?

Usually no. Texas cities use zoning more freely. Many counties face legal limits and lawsuit risk. Ask counsel about your parcel and jurisdiction.

Where do Freestone, Williamson, Trinity, or Hopkins stand?

We found no verified county moratorium for those names in this review. Public hearings are not the same as a pause ordinance. Tell us if you have a primary agenda or PDF.

General information only, not legal advice about your parcel. Confirm status with counsel and primary city or county records.

Communities

Communities we cover

17 Texas communities on the front lines — tap any to open.

GranburyHotspotHood County · Trinity AquiferAmarilloHotspotPotter County · Ogallala AquiferChildressHotspotChildress CountySan MarcosHotspotHays County · Edwards AquiferTempleHotspotBell County · Trinity AquiferCorpus ChristiHotspotNueces County · Gulf Coast AquiferWaco – Lacy LakeviewHotspotMcLennan County · Trinity AquiferHarlingenHotspotCameron County · Gulf Coast AquiferSulphur SpringsHotspotHopkins County · Trinity AquiferRed OakHotspotEllis County · Trinity AquiferMidlothianHotspotEllis County · Trinity AquiferSweetwaterNolan County · Dockum AquiferOdessaEctor CountyHillsboroHill County · Trinity AquiferCorsicanaNavarro County · Carrizo–Wilcox AquiferAbileneTaylor County · Seymour AquiferLaredoWebb County

Don't see your area? It may still be affected — tell us what's happening near you on the contact page.

The tracker

Every data center on the tracker

92 facilities across 26 Texas counties. Each links to its public source record.

Bastrop County(2)

  • Bastrop Project One Data Center · Bastrop — Operating · source
  • EdgeConneX Cedar Creek Data Center (second campus) · Cedar Creek — Permitted · source

Bell County(5)

  • Meta Data Center · Temple — Operating · source
  • Oppidan Data Center · Temple — Proposed · source
  • Rowan Data Center · Temple — Under construction · source
  • Temple Data Center Data Center · Temple — Under construction · source
  • Temple Green Data Center Data Center · Temple — Operating · source

Bexar County(13)

  • Alamo Data Center Data Center · San Antonio — Under construction · source
  • ALE60 Data Center Data Center · San Antonio — Operating · source
  • Amazon Data Center · San Antonio — Proposed · source
  • AWS Data Center · San Antonio — Proposed · source
  • Microsoft Corporation (SAT 15-17) Data Center · San Antonio — Under construction · source
  • Microsoft Corporation (SAT 80-85) Data Center · San Antonio — Under construction · source
  • Microsoft Corporation (SAT 89-90) Data Center · San Antonio — Under construction · source
  • Microsoft Corporation (SAT09 - SAT13) Data Center · San Antonio — Under construction · source
  • Microsoft San Antonio (SAT14) Data Center · San Antonio — Operating · source
  • Rowan Digital Data Center · San Antonio — Under construction · source
  • San Antonio Data Center II Data Center · San Antonio — Operating · source
  • San Antonio Data Center III Data Center · San Antonio — Operating · source
  • SDC SATB1 Data Center · San Antonio — Operating · source

Bosque County(2)

  • C1 Bosque I Data Center · Clifton — Under construction · source
  • C1 Bosque II LLC Data Center · Clifton — Under construction · source

Brazos County(1)

  • Rellis Campus Data and Research Center Data Center · Bryan — Operating · source

Cameron County(1)

  • Eneus Energy Data Center — Proposed · source

Childress County(2)

  • IREN Childress Campus (Horizon 1) · Childress — Operating · source
  • Lancium Childress Clean Campus · Childress — Proposed · source

Collin County(2)

  • C1 Dallas - Allen (LOT 1) LLC Data Center · Allen — Operating · source
  • DFW-04 Data Center Data Center · Plano — Under construction · source

Dallas County(14)

  • C1 Richardson LLC Data Center Data Center · Richardson — Operating · source
  • Crow Holdings Data Center · Dallas — Proposed · source
  • DFW 37 Data Center · Garland — Operating · source
  • DFW02 LANCASTER (STACK) Data Center · Lancaster — Under construction · source
  • Digital Garland Data Center · Garland — Operating · source
  • Digital Realty Trust Inc. Data Center — Proposed · source
  • LinkedIn Richardson Texas Data Center Data Center · Richardson — Operating · source
  • NTT Global Data Centers Americas - Dallas TX2 Data Center · Dallas — Operating · source
  • NTT Global Data Centers Americas - Dallas TX3 Data Center · Dallas — Operating · source
  • NTT Global Data Centers Americas - Dallas TX4 Data Center · Dallas — Operating · source
  • PowerCampus Dallas by Lancaster Data Center Campus LP Data Center · Lancaster — Under construction · source
  • Project Watertower Data Center · Dallas — Under construction · source
  • QTS Irving DC3 Data Center Data Center · Irving — Operating · source
  • State Farm Richardson Data Center Data Center · Richardson — Operating · source

Denton County(3)

  • Denton Data Center Data Center · Denton — Under construction · source
  • Hackberry Data Center Data Center · Hackberry — Operating · source
  • Lewisville DFW38 Data Center · Lewisville — Operating · source

Ector County(1)

  • Cipher Mining Technologies Inc. - Odessa Site Data Center · Odessa — Operating · source

El Paso County(1)

  • Meta Data Center · El Paso — Operating · source

Ellis County(6)

  • DFW 10 Data Center · Red Oak — Operating · source
  • DFW 11 Data Center · Red Oak — Operating · source
  • DFW 12 Data Center · Red Oak — Operating · source
  • DFW 9 Data Center · Red Oak — Operating · source
  • Red Oak Texas Data Center 2 Data Center · Red Oak — Under construction · source
  • Red Oak Texas Data Center Data Center · Red Oak — Under construction · source

Freestone County(1)

  • Freestone Data Center Data Center · Fairfield — Under construction · source

Harris County(5)

  • Cutten Data Center Data Center · Houston — Under construction · source
  • Cyrusone LLC - Houston West III Data Center Data Center · Houston — Under construction · source
  • Foxconn Data Center — Proposed · source
  • Hockley Data Center Data Center · Hockley — Operating · source
  • Shell Data Center · Houston — Operating · source

Hill County(1)

  • Nexus Data Centers Data Center · Hubbard — Under construction · source

Hood County(1)

  • Comanche Circle Data Center — Permitted · source

Lubbock County(1)

  • Fluidstack Abernathy Data Center Data Center · Abernathy — Under construction · source

McLennan County(1)

  • Galaxy Digital Data Center · McGregor — Proposed · source

Milam County(4)

  • Milam County Data Center Data Center · Cameron — Under construction · source
  • Riot Rockdale Data Center · Rockdale — Under construction · source
  • Riot Rockdale Data Center 1 Data Center · Rockdale — Under construction · source
  • Whinstone US Data Center Data Center · Rockdale — Operating · source

Navarro County(3)

  • Riot Corsicana Data Center 02 Data Center · Corsicana — Under construction · source
  • Riot Corsicana Data Center Data Center · Corsicana — Under construction · source
  • Riot Corsicana Data Center I Data Center · Corsicana — Under construction · source

Nueces County(2)

  • Beacon Point AI Data Center · Corpus Christi — Proposed · source
  • Hut 8 Data Center — Proposed · source

Potter County(2)

  • Duos Data Center · Amarillo — Operating · source
  • Fermi America Data Center · Amarillo — Proposed · source

Taylor County(10)

  • Lancium Abilene Clean Campus Data Center · Abilene — Under construction · source
  • Lancium Abilene Clean Campus II Data Center · Abilene — Under construction · source
  • Lancium Abilene Clean Campus III Data Center · Abilene — Under construction · source
  • Lancium Abilene Clean Campus IV Data Center · Abilene — Under construction · source
  • Lancium Abilene Clean Campus V Data Center · Abilene — Under construction · source
  • Lancium Abilene Clean Campus VI Data Center · Abilene — Under construction · source
  • Lancium Abilene Clean Campus VII Data Center · Abilene — Under construction · source
  • Lancium Abilene Clean Campus VIII Data Center · Abilene — Under construction · source
  • Oracle Data Center · Abilene — Under construction · source
  • Stargate Data Center · Abilene — Operating · source

Travis County(7)

  • Austin Data Center 2 LLC Data Center · Austin — Operating · source
  • ECX AUS11-16 Data Center · Austin — Under construction · source
  • EDC AUSTIN, LLC Data Center · Austin — Under construction · source
  • EdgeConneX AU02 Data Center · Austin — Under construction · source
  • Giga Texas Datacenter Data Center · Austin — Operating · source
  • SDC - Austin Tandem Data Center Data Center · Austin — Operating · source
  • Switch AUS 4 Data Center · Austin — Operating · source

Williamson County(1)

  • Hutto Data Center Campus LLC Data Center · Hutto — Under construction · source
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