… [Iron] county has been developing a new ordinance for approving such projects and other large developments like natural gas plants or solar farms. The proposed rules would cap water use for most data centers at 50,000 gallons per day, set limits on noise and light pollution, require more efficient cooling systems and give the county more control over where those projects can be built. … Developers would have to meet criteria governing where projects could be built and how close they can be to homes, show that water, power and transportation are available nearby, and minimize impacts on the environment or agriculture. … If a project needs more than 56 acre-feet per year, a developer could acquire more water rights, retire them and use that as credit for more water use, according to the draft ordinance.

Other data center water use and regulation news:

• KLAS (Las Vegas): Nevada gov. signs order putting guardrails in place for data center development
• Wyoming Public Media: Google promises to replenish local watershed at open house in Cheyenne
• AZ Luminaria (Tucson): Tucson is set to approve changes for large water users. Advocates say they aren’t strict enough.
• Davis Vanguard (Calif.): UC Davis environmental law expert argues Prop. 45 could speed data center development​
• The New Republic: Gavin Newsom’s data center plans may cost him the Native vote