Data Centers, Water Use, and Local Authority in Hays County
Dripping Social Team · March 30, 2026
Hays County is navigating a set of questions that communities across Central Texas are beginning to face: how should local governments respond to large-scale industrial water users, and what authority do they actually have? Here's what's happened so far, and what it means for Dripping Springs.
Background
In late February 2026, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra tabled a proposed moratorium on new development permits for high-water-use projects, including data centers. The vote was paused due to legal questions about whether the county has the authority to issue such a moratorium under current Texas law. Shortly after, State Rep. Erin Zwiener (House District 45, which includes Dripping Springs) announced the formation of a working group to examine the issue further.
The Working Group
The working group is focused on data centers, water use, and the question of local authority. It brings together elected officials, water conservancy representatives, and subject matter experts. "Our counties and our cities have very few tools to address these [data centers] if they're not within the city limits," Zwiener said in announcing the group. "I'm hoping the group can play an educational role and brainstorm how the law could be changed so that communities have a voice in this type of industrial development." Participants include representatives from:
- Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District
- Wimberley Valley Watershed Association
- San Marcos River Foundation
- Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association
- Hays County Commissioners Debbie Ingalsbe and Morgan Hammer
- Council members, water district representatives, and academic experts
Water Conditions in the Area
According to reporting by KUT, Hays County wells in the Dripping Springs and Wimberley area are currently at 20-year lows. The aquifers that supply residential wells across the region cross municipal boundaries — conditions in one part of the system can affect neighboring areas. Data centers are significant water users, primarily for cooling systems. The scale of water use varies considerably by facility size and design.
What the Working Group Will Do
The group plans to receive presentations from experts in water science, electric grid operations, data center design, and local control law. According to Zwiener's office, its goals include:
Helping Hays County communities understand the current regulatory landscape Identifying what legal tools local governments currently have available Developing a policy framework that other Texas counties facing similar situations could reference
No recommendations have been issued yet. The working group is in its early stages.
Why This Is Relevant to Dripping Springs
Dripping Springs sits within the aquifer system under discussion. The city is not currently considering data center permits, but shared water resources mean regional groundwater conditions affect local residential wells regardless of municipal boundaries. The legal questions raised by the tabled moratorium — specifically, what authority counties have over development outside city limits — are a central focus of the working group's research.
What to Watch
The working group has not announced a timeline for its findings. For updates, Zwiener's office and the Hays County Commissioner's Court are the primary sources. The Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District also publishes regular groundwater monitoring data at bseacd.org.