Temple Is Turning An Unused Data Center Well Into A Drought Reserve System

The topic of who owns Temple's groundwater well dominates a Temple City Council meeting.

Temple Clarifies Groundwater Well Ownership as City Advances Aquifer Storage Plans

As Temple City Officials move forward with an Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) program to strengthen the region’s drought response, public inquiries have increased regarding the ownership and control of a key groundwater well.

Synergy Well

The Synergy well is situated in southeast Temple adjacent to land held by Rowan data center. The well has emerged as a focal point in public discussions surrounding municipal water conservation and commercial development within Bell County.

Shift in Industrial Plans Leads to Well Dedication

According to KCEN, a review of the 2022 economic development agreement between Temple and Rowan (formerly operating as Temple Green Data) reveals that the firm originally agreed to finance the construction of the groundwater well to support a proposed $225 million data facility. Under the terms of that initial deal, the city agreed to reimburse Rowan up to approximately $4.8 million for a suite of public infrastructure improvements, including utility connections, water and wastewater pipelines, and the well itself. In exchange, Rowan was granted water service access.

The Project Shifts

The project's trajectory shifted significantly. Rowan representatives confirmed to KCEN that the planned data center was repurposed into a commercial warehouse after the initial concept no longer aligned with the scope of the agreement. Rowan also said the closed-loop cooling systems lowered water demands, rendering the dedicated groundwater well unnecessary for their needs.

Temple Residents Have Questions

During a recent City Council session, city officials sought to reassure residents regarding the legal status of the infrastructure. Temple City Manager Brynn Myers said, "Their agreement with us was to build the well and to dedicate it to the city as public infrastructure, and so we own the well and all of the water rights from that well." Myers said any utility rights held by commercial developers remain strictly governed by city utility service agreements.

The City of Temple Plans

The city intends to utilize the Synergy well as the primary foundation for its proposed Aquifer Storage and Recovery system. The ASR strategy involves injecting treated drinking water into subterranean aquifers during periods of heavy rainfall or surplus supply, allowing the city to retrieve the stored reserves during severe drought conditions. Before full-scale operations can begin, the city must secure an official operating permit from the Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District.