The Dalles wants to keep secret Google's water usage

(NOVEMBER 5, 2021) Google has many "trade secrets" (confidential business information), mostly about how its websites work. However, in Oregon, Google and the city of The Dalles want to keep something else secret. They don't want to tell The Oregonian newspaper -- or the public -- how much water it uses.

Google has data centers in The Dalles, and the company plans to build more. Google uses water to cool the data centers, but it needs a better water system to meet its needs. So Google wants to pay The Dalles to improve the water system. The deal is worth about $28.5 million. Earlier this month, a Wasco County official said the city must provide the information because it is a public record. Now the city is asking a state court to let them keep the details private.

Area residents and farmers worry about the water deal, especially because of recent drought conditions. They want to know more about Google's plans and how much water it will need. Although the details of water usage are hidden from the public right now, city council members can see them. So they feel comfortable with the new agreement.

Google also receives special deals on its property tax from both the city and the county. According to The Oregonian newspaper:

So The Dalles and the tech giant hashed out a plan for Google to spend $28.5 million to expand the city’s water capacity. The pact calls for transferring some of Google’s water rights to the city and to replenish the large aquifer under the city with treated water during wet-weather months.

The Dalles says Google would use just a portion of the additional water capacity, giving the city more water for its residents and industry. Amid a prolonged drought, though, residents and farmers have expressed worry that the deal might strain the city’s water supply rather than boost it.

“The amount of water that we’re receiving in both water rights and in new production capacities, those are both amounts that are greater than what is being requested for the new development,” said Dave Anderson. He's the city's public works director. “The city comes out ahead on it in terms of water supplies.”

The giant company employs about 200 people in The Dalles, a city with a population of about 15,400.