Linn CountyTuesday, November 3
Google will pay up to $242,323 for an independent Linn County water study
The Good Day Cedar Rapids team
If you've been following Google's plans near Palo, the county is now getting its own read on water. Linn County supervisors approved an agreement on Wed., Oct. 28, and Google will pay up to $242,323 for a study by Black & Veatch, an independent engineering firm the county selected.
$242,323most Google will pay for the study
Google has no say over the study's scope or final results.
Source: The Gazette
“Google will not review the results while the study is underway and will not see the results before the public.”
The study will look at water use, future demand, drought risks and gaps in data, including the Cedar River and its alluvial aquifer, in average years and in extended drought. It's part of the county's work during its data center moratorium.
Linn County leaders say the study could help inform water policy but wouldn't commit the county to any decision on Palo.
- Results expected: March 2027, released publicly
- Google's payment covers the study's first phase
- Who chose the firm: Linn County, not Google
Linn County's water study runs from a moratorium to March results
- July 2026Linn County adopts a moratorium on new large-scale data centers.
- Oct. 22A Google manager speaks at a town hall at the Palo Community Center.
- Oct. 28Supervisors approve the agreement with Google for the study.
- March 2027Linn County expects the study to be complete.
Sources: The Gazette, kcrg.com
Sources: The Gazette, KGAN, kcrg.com