Iowa Data Center Owner Calls Out Google on Water Use

An Iowa data center owner is pushing back against a proposed Google facility in Palo, warning that the tech giant's project could drain millions of gallons of local water and bypass stricter county regulations. Doug Sevey, president and CEO of Enseva, went viral this month after calling out Google's plans at a city council meeting, arguing that Big Tech needs to be held accountable to the community.

Why an Iowa data center owner is pushing back on Big Tech

Sevey knows the data center industry inside and out. His company, Enseva, operates a facility in Hiawatha that uses a closed-loop chilled-water system designed to maximize energy efficiency and minimize water consumption. He fears Google will cut corners to save a buck.

Everything Google is telling you is BS. They're going to burn through the water, and when it's done, it's done, and they don't care.

Sevey made those blunt remarks at a June 1 Palo city council meeting, and the video quickly spread across social media. In an interview with Business Insider, Sevey clarified that he is not against data center growth, but insisted that projects must be