Google Tackles Oklahoma Water Worries with $30M Investment

Google has invested $30 million in Oklahoma's water conservation efforts amid concerns over the state's ability to meet the needs of its growing data center industry.

The investment will fund projects aimed at conserving water, including the removal of cedar trees from approximately 2,000 acres along the Arkansas River. According to Trey Lam, executive director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, cedars can remove up to 60 gallons a day per tree, making them a significant drain on the state's water resources.

Google has allocated $1.5 million for the cedar removal project, which is expected to save an estimated 50,000 gallons per acre and a total of 100 million gallons over time.

In addition to the cedar removal project, Google is also funding another initiative in the panhandle with nearly $800,000 to help conserve 81 million gallons of water in the aquifer.