Water Integration
Flathead Deep Aquifer constraints, Legislative Monitoring Area status, and closed-loop mandate.
Risk Level
High
Recommended
Closed-Loop
Cooling Cost Comparison
Cost per 1,000 gallons equivalent and Sustainability Score
Status: High Regulatory Risk
The Flathead Valley Deep Aquifer is now a "Legislative Aquifer Monitoring Area" (SB 358). New groundwater appropriations are heavily scrutinized for potential depletion of surface water connections to Flathead Lake and the Flathead River system.
The "Exempt Well" Loophole: Closed
You cannot stack exempt wells (35 GPM) to serve a data center campus. This loophole has been explicitly closed for industrial clusters, eliminating the path of least resistance for water access.
Permitting Path (If Water Needed)
To obtain a beneficial water use permit (DNRC Form 600), you must prove "no adverse effect" on existing water rights. This likely requires Mitigation Banking—buying senior irrigation water rights and retiring them to offset your consumption.
Recommended Strategy: Zero-Water Design
Air-cooled chillers or closed-loop liquid cooling (DLC) are strongly recommended to minimize water withdrawal permitting friction. A "zero-water" cooling design will speed up entitlement by 12-18 months.
Permitting Timeline
DNRC Water Permit Timeline: 12-24 months if contested. Hydrogeological assessment and mitigation plan required. The permitting process can be weaponized by opposition groups to delay groundbreaking.
Climate Advantage
Unlike San Antonio where evaporative cooling is essentially mandatory for efficiency, Kalispell's cool climate makes closed-loop systems viable without significant PUE penalty. This converts a Texas necessity (water) into a Montana option.