Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday directed the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to punish data centers and other large water users that have failed to file required usage surveys, and to use its authority if they miss the same reports again.
The governor’s office said those operators “appear to have committed civil and criminal violations” by withholding information the board needs to write the state water plan.
The Texas Water Code requires recipients of a TWDB survey to complete and return it, and failure to do so could be treated as a crime. Failure to complete the surveys on time can result in a facility losing eligibility for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) permits, amendments, or renewals under Chapter 11 of the Water Code….