BLACK & VEATCH
COMPREHENSIVE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS
A global technology leader’ s multi-site expansion revealed the full complexity of modern water management. One project required a 2.5-mile wastewater pipeline connecting cooling tower blowdown to the local treatment plant while coordinating NPDES permit modifications across multiple agencies. Another involved alternatives analysis for discharge options, evaluating whether blowdown could discharge directly to receiving bodies or required on-site treatment systems. A third project developed conceptual design for a wastewater treatment plant to supply recycled water, examining existing utility infrastructure and identifying new requirements to meet both current demands and sustainability goals.
Regulatory and permitting complexities Imagine trying to get approval for a nuclear power plant, but the regulatory framework assumes you’ re building a warehouse. That’ s essentially what data centre developers face when facilities reach the scale and complexity of modern hyperscale campuses. The regulatory systems simply weren’ t designed for facilities that consume more power than small cities while incorporating generation, water treatment and telecommunications infrastructure that would normally be spread across multiple projects.
As a result, air quality permits that once required anything from three to six months now stretch to up to 18 months for full approval. Mike Rinkol, who specialises in air emissions at Black & Veatch, explains the systematic problem:“ We’ re also seeing some instances based on jurisdictions, staffing issues and so getting permits into those and getting them reviewed has taken up a lot of time.”
The Authority Having Jurisdiction( AHJ) variations create particular challenges for operators developing facilities across multiple regions.
62 August 2025