Texas AG Opens Data Center Water-Reporting Investigation Across 18 Counties
The inquiry focuses on water-use survey compliance, adding a reporting issue for developers and project teams to track alongside construction and utility approvals.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office announced an investigation on September 24 into data center developments and their responses to the Texas Water Development Board’s water-use survey. The office identified developments in 18 counties within its initial investigation.
The announcement is an investigative step. It does not establish that every development in those counties has violated the law, and it does not itself announce a statewide construction stop.
Project at a Glance
- Authority:
- Office of the Texas Attorney General
- Focus:
- Water-use survey responses and reporting compliance
- Initial coverage:
- 18 counties identified
- Announcement:
- September 24, 2026
A Reporting Issue With Delivery Relevance
The counties named are Harris, Montgomery, Travis, Dallas, Tarrant, Smith, Bexar, Tom Green, Potter, Randall, Lubbock, Midland, Ector, Wichita, Victoria, Brazos, Nueces and El Paso.
The office says it is seeking accurate and current water-use information. Its release does not set out project-specific findings, penalties or revised construction schedules.
What Construction Teams Should Separate
TCH assessment: construction water, ongoing facility consumption and the initial fill of a cooling system describe different demands. Clear distinctions in project documents can help owners, engineers and utility teams explain what is planned and what has actually been used.
Any effect on an individual project’s procurement or construction schedule would depend on subsequent action and its own circumstances. The investigation alone is not evidence that a named contractor has lost work or that a particular campus has been denied permission to proceed.