Full Breakdown
Imperial Valley Data Center Seeks Colorado River Water Amid Drought
6/17/2026, 5:32:00 AM
Core Event
IVCM, owned by Sebastian Rucci, filed suit in Imperial County Superior Court seeking 260 million gallons per year (?880 acre-feet) from IID—about the annual water use of 7,300 Imperial County residents—to cool a data center that needs roughly 750,000 gallons per day.
Background & Context
The Colorado River, the Imperial Valley’s only fresh water source, is at historically low levels due to climate-driven drought. IID holds 3.1 million acre-feet of water rights that support long-standing agricultural claims; IVCM’s request represents a tiny fraction of that entitlement.
Key Figures & Groups
Key figures are developer-attorney Sebastian Rucci, IID General Counsel Wayne Stumpfer (who declined comment), IID Chair Karin Eugenio (who authored an editorial opposing the project), and the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, which will consider an emergency pause.
Data & Statistics
IVCM needs 260 million gallons annually and proposes to leave 160 acres of irrigated farmland fallow, arguing the farm’s water allocation can be transferred to the data center. The company also offered to fund wastewater-treatment upgrades and route excess recycled water to the Salton Sea, but talks with Imperial and El Centro collapsed.
Official Statements & Responses
IVCM described the suit as a “last resort” after the cities withdrew from water-recycling talks. IVCM says its proposal would cover treatment upgrades, water fees and routing excess recycled water to the Salton Sea. IID Chair Karin Eugenio publicly opposed the project, citing environmental and public-health concerns.
Criticism & Opposition
Local officials have introduced moratoriums and an emergency-pause proposal, and residents voiced frustration on social media, arguing data centers should not compete for scarce river water during a drought.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Rucci previously asserted that the facility would rely solely on municipal wastewater and would not draw any water from the Colorado River. The lawsuit’s request for direct river water creates a discrepancy between those statements and the current legal action.
What's Next
The lawsuit is pending in Imperial County Superior Court. IID is reviewing a new pricing structure for large energy users, and the Imperial County Board of Supervisors will vote on the emergency pause.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The facility purchases municipal wastewater that would otherwise be discarded,” — Sebastian Rucci, Attorney at Law, IVCM
- “It does not touch a single drop of the Colorado River.” — Sebastian Rucci, Attorney at Law, IVCM
- “Data centers are becoming a major issue. They are always in the news, and it is always bad.” — Reddit user, Colorado River water consumer
- “Like 7 states rely on the Colorado River’s water, which feeds most of America. But sure… yeah… let’s allow a data center to use that water for cooling and then literally poison the rest of America as a byproduct.” — Reddit user
- “I can’t water my tomatoes, but these [expletive] can do whatever they want?” — Reddit user
