Presenter: large data centers can withdraw hundreds of millions of gallons annually; reporting now limited

A Coastal Conservation League presenter told the meeting that large data centers can use very large volumes of drinking water for cooling and that current disclosure requirements are limited. "This facility in 2024 used, 853,800,000 gallons of drinking water," Grant McClure said, citing a 2024 operational number for a large center in Berkeley County.

McClure said the state house passed a budget proviso that would require reporting for facilities at roughly 200 megawatts and above for one year, but he stressed that broader mandatory long‑term reporting for water use is not currently in place. During Q&A officials asked whether facilities use closed‑loop systems and whether farmers have reporting obligations similar to those for large industrial users; McClure said permits are required through the state Department of Environmental Services and he would follow up on annual reporting details.