As a longtime Botetourt County landowner who manages 242 acres under a perpetual conservation easement with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and who previously served as Fincastle District supervisor, I have followed with interest the discussions surrounding water supply planning in our region.
The proposed data center campus in Botetourt County has understandably raised questions about long-term water availability. Public records show that the project’s agreements reserve up to 2 million gallons per day initially from Carvins Cove Reservoir, with potential expansion to 8 million gallons daily. These figures have been reported in the Fincastle Herald (March 3, 2026) and by WSLS and Virginia Business. At the same time, the Western Virginia Water Authority and county officials have stated that the facility would be subject to the same drought restrictions as other customers and that Google would fund a substantial share of associated infrastructure.
As of July 18, 2026, the Western Virginia Water Authority reports Carvins Cove at 64.5% of capacity and Spring Hollow at 77.1% of capacity, with voluntary conservation measures currently in effect. Historical records show that the region has experienced significant drawdowns during past droughts, most notably in 2001–2002.
These facts make clear that water supply planning is a complex, long-term regional issue. In this context, the Botetourt County Planning Commission’s unanimous request that the board of supervisors authorize a public forum on water supply planning, drought response, infrastructure accountability and related topics represents a constructive step. The commission has indicated it would submit background materials, including a water situation summary and compiled questions, and would seek balanced expert participation if authorized.
A well-structured public forum would allow for open examination of data, historical performance and future scenarios in a civil setting. It would not replace ongoing technical work by the Western Virginia Water Authority or state-mandated regional planning, but it could help build broader public understanding and confidence in the decisions ahead.
I believe authorizing such a forum would be consistent with the principles of transparent and responsive local governance that serve our communities well. I encourage the board of supervisors to approve the planning commission’s request when it considers the matter on July 28.
Larry Ceola is a former Fincastle District supervisor for Botetourt County.
