Oklahoma's Groundwater Cooling Limits for Data Centers Take Effect: Evaporative Cooling Banned, Low-Water Recirculating Systems Required
Oklahoma Senate Bill 259 took effect on November 1, restricting the use of groundwater for cooling at data processing facilities and data centers: groundwater may not be used for cooling through open-air evaporative systems or once-through methods that consume it, and facilities applying for a groundwater permit must demonstrate a closed-loop, dielectric immersion or comparably low-consumption cooling system, as determined by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
The governor approved the bill on May 20, a ceremonial signing explanation followed on August 6, and the final text set the effective date as November 1, 2026. The law targets groundwater and the cooling use of specific facilities; it is not a statewide ban on all water use or all liquid cooling technology, and it sets no mining-farm size threshold.
Supporters say evaporative cooling can consume large volumes of groundwater as data centers grow, and the legislation aims to protect aquifers and water for farms and residents. House Bill 2992, often mentioned alongside it, is a separate law on electricity and large-load users that took effect July 1; its ratepayer protections are unrelated to the November 1 groundwater change. The Water Resources Board will review the relevant permit applications.
(Source: ASIC.tools)
Source: ASIC.tools
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：数据中心外观（资料图）。Swilsonmc 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: a data center exterior (file photo). By Swilsonmc, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
