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Occoquan watershed
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Occoquan watershed

A Northern Virginia watershed supplying drinking water to roughly eight million people, cited by Prince William supervisors in denying the Dulles South campus.

Last refreshed: 15 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Timeline for Occoquan watershed

#106 Jul

Prince William denies a 43m sq ft campus

Data Centres: Boom and Backlash
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Common Questions
What is the Occoquan watershed?
The Occoquan watershed is a Northern Virginia reservoir and watershed that supplies drinking water to roughly 8 million people.Source: event
Why was the Occoquan watershed cited in the Dulles South decision?
Prince William County supervisors cited risk to the Occoquan watershed, the drinking water source for roughly 8 million people, as a reason to deny the Dulles South Innovation Center.Source: event
How many people depend on the Occoquan watershed?
Roughly 8 million people in Northern Virginia depend on the Occoquan watershed for drinking water.Source: event

Background

The Occoquan watershed was cited by Prince William County supervisors when they voted 8-0 on 7 July 2026 to deny the Dulles South Innovation Center, a proposed 43-million-square-foot data-centre campus.

The watershed and its reservoir supply drinking water to roughly 8 million people across Northern Virginia, making it one of the region's most important sources of drinking water even as the surrounding counties have become one of the world's densest concentrations of data centres.

Supervisors treating the watershed as a formal ground for denial, alongside zoning and Comprehensive Plan conflicts, signals that water resources are becoming as central to hyperscale planning fights as land use and power supply.