Potential Dubuque data center could require 3 million gallons of water, city seeks public input

DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) — A Florida-based real estate company has contacted the City of Dubuque to discuss connecting a possible data center to city water and sanitary sewer systems, a move that would require city council approval.

According to public records obtained by TV9, the data center would require up to 3 million gallons of water to initially charge the closed-loop cooling system, and up to 250,000 gallons annually to maintain operations.

The city and Dubuque County say Karis, the Florida-based real estate company looking at land east of the Dubuque Regional Airport to build a data center, has not submitted a formal application.

While Dubuque County currently has a 12-month data center moratorium in place, both the county and city are developing data center ordinances.

“No formal annexation petition, site plan, request for utilities, or development agreement regarding any proposed data center in the city limits has been presented to the City of Dubuque. If any project were to be proposed/submitted to the City by a developer, no action would be taken on it by the City Council until an ordinance is in place,” reads a paragraph on the City of Dubuque’s data center ordinance community input page.

The city is also gathering public input through an online survey and two in-person public input sessions on the data center ordinance on July 21 and July 27. Both meetings will start at 6 p.m. at the Grand River Center and will have the same agenda.

TV9 interviewed more than a dozen people on Friday, asking residents questions on Dubuque’s online survey. All expressed opposition to data centers, but only Dubuque native Tim Connelly would speak on-camera.

“A data center that’s going to suck millions of gallons of water, our precious resource, you know, that’s just a bad idea,” Connelly said.

Connelly said he would consider supporting a data center if Karis or another developer agreed to help pay for city services or education, but he added he did not believe it would be worth it.

“I would not support a data center in Dubuque at this point. Someone’s going to have to convince me otherwise,” Connelly said. When asked what if there was an investment a developer could make to persuade Connelly, he added: “No. No.”

Karis has not responded to a request for comment.