A massive data center proposed for Imperial Valley, California, would require 750,000 gallons of water daily, raising fears among local residents about rising costs and shortages. Developer Sebastian Rucci plans to complete the 330-megawatt facility by 2028, but it faces lawsuits and regulatory hurdles. The project is one of 24 data centers set to open in the state by 2030.
In Imperial Valley, about 115 miles east of San Diego, developer Sebastian Rucci is pushing forward with a 950,000-square-foot data center on 235 acres he has purchased. The facility, which could become California's largest if completed by summer 2028, is designed for 330 megawatts of power and would need 750,000 gallons of water per day for cooling. Rucci insists studies show no impact on local water and electricity costs, stating, “We have studies on the air. We have studies on the water. The electricity could be handled.” He has proposed using reclaimed water from nearby cities and aims to create about 100 permanent jobs. Google has denied involvement despite Rucci's mention of training its Gemini AI there. The project faces a lawsuit from the city of Imperial over environmental reviews under the California Environmental Quality Act, with the next court date set for the end of April. The Imperial Irrigation District has not received a formal water request and provided no cost impact estimates. Local residents like Margie Padilla, who lives less than half a mile away, worry about bill increases and restrictions. Her family's water, sewer, and trash bill has doubled to $90-$130 monthly in six years, and she relies on her garden for fresh produce. “I can only imagine the rates going up once that data center is up and running,” Padilla said. Neighbor Carolina Paez, whose backyard abuts the site, fears dust, noise, pollution, and property value drops amid her family's asthma issues. Experts highlight broader challenges amid California's data center boom. Shaolei Ren of the University of California, Riverside, notes a 100-megawatt facility can use 1 million gallons daily in peak heat, equivalent to 10,000 households. The state lacks requirements for data centers to report water use, complicating oversight in a region strained by drought and Colorado River declines. Ren estimates $200 million to $800 million in water infrastructure upgrades needed for the 24 planned centers by 2030.
