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SB521 • 2026

Data centers; rainwater harvesting systems.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 32.1-248.2:1, relating to data centers; rainwater harvesting systems.</p>

Water
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Deeds
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Continued
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not specify that only certified individuals must design and install rainwater harvesting systems, but it authorizes the State Board of Health and Department of Environmental Quality to develop regulations for this purpose.

Data Centers Must Use Rainwater

This law requires new data centers or major expansions of existing ones in Virginia to collect and use rainwater for non-drinking purposes.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires any new construction or substantial expansion of a data center to include a rainwater harvesting system sufficient to capture rainwater runoff from at least 30 percent of the total roof surface area.
  • The collected rainwater must be used for non-potable water needs, such as irrigation or cooling equipment.
  • Authorizes the State Board of Health and Department of Environmental Quality to promulgate regulations necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Data center companies that build new centers or expand old ones in Virginia.

Terms To Know

Rainwater harvesting system
A setup that collects rainwater to use for non-drinking purposes like watering plants or cooling equipment.
Non-potable water needs
Water used for things other than drinking, such as irrigation or cooling systems.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the consequences if a data center fails to comply with these requirements.
  • It is unclear how much it will cost to set up and maintain the rainwater harvesting system.
  • The exact details of the regulations are yet to be decided by the State Board of Health and Department of Environmental Quality.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SB521ASC1

2026-02-03

Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Amendment

Plain English: The amendment changes how data centers are inspected for their rainwater harvesting systems.

  • Removes the requirement that a person certified by the American Society of Sanitary Engineering must inspect the rainwater harvesting system.
  • It is unclear what specific regulations will be developed under § 32.1-248.2 and how they will affect data centers.
  • The amendment does not provide details on who will develop or enforce these new regulations.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Continued to 2027 in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (12-Y 2-N)

  2. 2026-02-03 Water Usage

    Senate subcommittee offered

  3. 2026-02-03 Water Usage

    Assigned HACNR sub: Water Usage

  4. 2026-01-23 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB521)

  5. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102641D

  6. 2026-01-13 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

Data centers; rainwater harvesting systems.
Requires any new construction or substantial expansion, as defined in the bill, of a data center, as defined in the bill, to (i) include a rainwater harvesting system sufficient to capture rainwater runoff from at least 30 percent of the total roof surface area of such data center and (ii) use such harvested rainwater for non-potable water needs, as defined in the bill, including irrigation or the dissipation of heat from any component of such data center. The bill also requires any such system to be designed, installed, and periodically inspected by a person certified by the American Society of Sanitary Engineering and authorizes the State Board of Health to promulgate regulations in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Quality as necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB 521

AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES

1. Line 35, introduced, after
inspected

strike

by a person certified by the American Society of Sanitary Engineering

insert

in accordance with rainwater harvesting system regulations developed pursuant to §
32.1-248.2