In Texas, groundwater law follows the “rule of capture.” That means water rights are tied directly to land ownership. For example, the 3,700 acres Google purchased or leased for its upcoming AI data center — “Project Roman” in Deaf Smith County — would also include the right to pump the groundwater beneath it.
This raises serious concerns about a private company controlling a public resource. And Texas isn’t alone. Other states that follow some version of the rule of capture include Maine, Louisiana, and others. This is scary!
