09/03/2026
Town of Appomattox Statement Regarding AVAIO Utility Service
The Town of Appomattox is aware of a public statement by Appomattox County Board of Supervisors Chairman John Hinkle stating that “The Town of Appomattox public water utility has agreed to supply all of AVAIO’s water needs.”
The Town would like to clarify the scope of its commitment to the AVAIO project.
When presented with the data center proposal, the Town evaluated its existing utility capacity and determined that it could make available up to 45,000 gallons per day of water and 45,000 gallons per day of wastewater service. That is the scope of the Town’s current will-serve commitment. The Town has not agreed to provide unlimited water or wastewater service to the project.
The Town has long planned to support development in the Industrial Park through the provision of utility service and currently supplies water and wastewater service to existing Industrial Park businesses. The Town has the capacity necessary to meet its current commitment to AVAIO, and AVAIO will be responsible for the costs of utility infrastructure necessary to serve its project.
Although the proposed data center campus is located in Appomattox County, the Town owns and operates the utility systems expected to serve the project. Water supplied through the Town’s utility system is currently provided by CCUSA under contract with Appomattox County. While that water supply contract is between CCUSA and the County, the Town pays for the water consumed in and outside of Town. The Town is responsible for operating, maintaining, repairing, and planning for the utility system that delivers it. The Town and County have operated under this arrangement since at least 2011.
The current CCUSA-County water supply agreement expires December 31, 2030. The Town understands that Appomattox County has been engaged in discussions with Campbell County and/or CCUSA regarding water supply. The Town cannot report on the status of those discussions because it has not been included in those negotiations. As the governmental entity responsible for operating the utility system and ultimately providing service to its customers, the Town believes it should be directly involved in discussions affecting the future water supply upon which that system depends.
The existing relationship between the County and Town regarding water supply requires cooperation between the two localities to plan responsibly for the area’s future needs, particularly when considering large developments. The Town has reached out to the County to seek greater coordination on these matters. The County has recently requested additional information about the Town’s Master Utility Plan.
The Town is currently completing a comprehensive Master Utility Plan evaluating its water and wastewater systems, including water supply, treatment capacity, future demand, infrastructure needs, capital costs, and utility rates. The purpose of this work is to ensure that decisions affecting these critical public systems are based on sound engineering, financial analysis, and the long-term interests of the Town’s residents and utility customers. Identifying the most efficient
and reliable future water supply arrangement as soon as practicable will allow the Town to plan appropriately and help ensure a smooth transition before the existing supply agreement expires.
AVAIO, like any other utility customer, will be responsible for applicable utility rates and charges. Any request for service beyond the Town’s existing commitment, or any additional infrastructure necessary to provide such service, will require further review and approval by the Town and appropriate agreements addressing capacity, infrastructure, financing, and associated costs.
The Town remains willing to work constructively with Appomattox County, the Chairman and Board of Supervisors, AVAIO, Campbell County, CCUSA, and other necessary parties. Effective long-term planning requires including the governmental entity responsible for operating the utility system in negotiations and decisions that directly affect that system and its future water supply.
Michael Campbell
Town Manager
Town of Appomattox
