Water Cuts Loom as Arizona Communities Fight Data Centers, Queen Creek Watches Supply

QUEEN CREEK, Arizona — Queen Creek, located in the southeast Phoenix metro area and spanning the Maricopa-Pinal county line, has a population of approximately 70,000 and is one of the fastest-growing communities in Arizona.

Arizona could face Colorado River water cuts of up to 77% as the state contends with a 30-year extreme drought that has reduced river flows by 20% since the year 2000, according to climate researchers and water policy experts. The looming cuts have galvanized residents across the state who are now organizing against new data center developments that would become some of the largest water consumers in their communities.

“Water was a unifying theme in our campaign. The Colorado River cuts are looming, and this project would take water away. We say ‘Not One Drop’ for data centres.” — Marisol Winfrey Herrera, Tucson resident and activist

In Tucson, the activist group No Desert Data Center successfully pressured the city council to unanimously deny annexation, water, and power to a proposed $3.6 billion, 290-acre data center project known as Project Blue. The developer, Beale Infrastructure, later secured approval from Pima County for the project in an unincorporated area, with a second $5 billion, 600-acre site proposed in nearby Marana. Construction began in April 2026. The developer switched to air-cooled servers with a closed-loop water system after losing access to city water.

Energy concerns have intensified the opposition. Nearly half of Tucson Electric Power’s electricity comes from fracking, and activists warn that data center demand will drive more fossil fuel extraction and higher consumer rates — TEP proposed a 14% rate increase in 2025 following a 10% hike in 2023. Researchers also caution that extreme heat in Arizona makes data center cooling less efficient, requiring more water and energy. University of Wyoming law professor Jason Robison noted that Arizona’s water position is uniquely vulnerable: no Colorado River water can flow to Tucson or Phoenix unless California receives its full allocation first.

“Data centres are not under the same rules to replenish water. So it adds a straw to the aquifer.” — Sharon Megdal, Director, University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/6/27/with-water-cuts-looming-in-arizona-in-us-locals-fight-data-centres