Council and SAWS discuss using recycled water and rules for data centers

A portion of council’s questioning focused on policy options to manage data‑center growth and its demands on potable and wastewater systems. Councilmembers asked what SAWS has done over the summer to address data‑center water use; SAWS said it has brought the issue to the board multiple times and is exploring changes in utility service regulations so that large non‑potable users like data centers are encouraged or required to take recycled water and be charged under an appropriate rate structure.

SAWS staff said some policy changes can be implemented at the staff/regulatory level and others will require board or council action; staff hoped to present proposals to the board in late fall and pursue public briefings and possible action by December. The utility also noted a broader master plan and recycled‑water connectivity project that would better connect northern and southern recycled systems and add pump stations to create redundancy. Council members asked staff to consider incentives and developer oversizing rules as part of the impact‑fee and CIP discussions.