This is what Virginia’s worst drought in more than two decades looks like. Nearly 60% of the commonwealth is experiencing prolonged drought conditions, and parts of the Southside are now in extreme drought. Local governments—like the towns of Gretna and Chatham—are sounding the alarm on the dry conditions. They’re calling the situation a “water emergency” and asking residents to use less. Many crops are not growing as well this year because of the dry conditions. Virginia’s hay yield is down 35% statewide, recent USDA and Virginia Cooperative Extension data showed, with losses reaching 70% in some areas. And the drought comes as Virginians are already raising questions about another demand on the state’s water supply: data centers. Some of the larger Virginia data centers use millions of gallons of water a day to cool the components.
