Akron drafts data center regulations to protect municipal water supply

Akron drafts data center regulations to protect municipal water supplyAs the water-intensive data center industry eyes the Great Lakes region, the City of Akron has confirmed it is actively developing regulations to manage future industrial water demands and safeguard its 35 million gallon-per-day treatment capacity.

Mayor Shammas Malik confirmed the city is looking at regulations for data centers, noting that municipal governments are currently "behind the 8-ball" on the rapidly emerging industry.

Local business owners urged the council to be proactive, warning that developers are targeting vacant commercial real estate in the region for access to the Great Lakes' freshwater network.

Akron's water treatment facility currently produces approximately 35 million gallons per day, a capacity residents fear could be strained by AI and data processing cooling needs.

In separate utility business, the City Council formally approved a citywide lead service line replacement program and authorized valve upgrades at the Water Supply Bureau.

The City of Akron, Ohio, is actively preparing regulations to govern data center developments, aiming to safeguard its municipal water supply from the tech industry's massive cooling demands. During a June 8, 2026, City Council meeting, Mayor Shammas Malik confirmed that the administration is working on clear rules for the rapidly expanding sector to protect local resources. "We are as a city looking at regulations when it comes to data centers," Malik stated. "This is something that frankly city governments and governments at the state and federal level are all behind the 8-ball on. And given how fast this industry has emerged, it is something where we need to have very clear rules of the road." The policy push comes amid growing local awareness of the strain artificial intelligence and data processing facilities place on freshwater resources. During public comment, local business owner Austin Quells highlighted the vulnerability of Akron's water system, noting that the city's water treatment facility produces about 35 million gallons per day. Quells warned that developers are likely eyeing vacant local real estate, such as the shuttered Chapel Hill Mall and Rolling Acres, specifically for their proximity to the Great Lakes' freshwater network. "It doesn't just suck up electricity, it sucks up the fresh water," Quells told the council, urging proactive legislative action rather than waiting for developers to secure sites. Malik agreed with the need for proactive measures, promising to bring proposed regulations before the council and the public once they are formally drafted. In other municipal water business, the City Council unanimously passed its consent agenda, which included two major infrastructure authorizations. The council approved an ordinance to roll out a citywide lead service line replacement program. Additionally, the council authorized the Director of Public Service to enter into contracts for the replacement and improvement of the High Service Pump Ball Valve and Limitorque Manual Valves at the city's Water Supply Bureau.