Section 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
The people of Oregon find that the rapid expansion of high-utility industrial facilities, including data centers, places a significant strain on the state’s limited freshwater and potable water resources. The purpose of this Act is to preserve drinking water for human consumption and agricultural needs by mandating the use of recycled wastewater for industrial cooling.

Section 3. Mandatory Use Of Recycled Waste Water

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any industrial facility located in the State of Oregon that utilizes more than 50,000 gallons of water per day for the purpose of evaporative or non-evaporative cooling shall be prohibited from using potable water or untreated groundwater for such purposes.

(2) All facilities described in subsection (1) of this section must utilize Class A, B, or C Recycled Water, as defined by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) under OAR 340-055, for all cooling operations.

Section 4. Compliance And Enforcement

(1) Existing facilities that do not currently meet the requirements of Section 3 shall have twenty-four (24) months from the effective date of this Act to transition to recycled wastewater systems.

(2) The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality shall oversee compliance and is authorized to impose civil penalties for violations of this Act.

Section 5. SEVERABILITY.
If any part of this Act is held invalid, the remainder of the Act shall remain in full force and effect.