Overview
- The directive, issued Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, tells the Texas Water Development Board to enforce state law and penalize data centers that did not complete required water‑use surveys.
- Abbott tied the order to energy oversight by directing the TWDB to work with ERCOT and the PUCT so projects that fail ERCOT’s audit can be denied interconnection to the grid.
- The governor said noncompliance can lead to criminal referral to county or district attorneys and make facilities ineligible for certain Texas Commission on Environmental Quality permits.
- TWDB records show survey response rates have fallen as the number of data centers rose, with roughly 28–32% compliance in recent rounds and particularly low responses from newly tracked sites.
- State officials and local leaders say the survey data feed the 50‑year water plan because data centers can use millions of gallons per year, and the new enforcement push could reshape approvals, local water risks, and permit decisions.