A moratorium can give municipalities time to assess data centre development. A lasting policy still needs to address water and power capacity, infrastructure costs, competing growth priorities and enforceable project commitments.

A recommendation can look complete while the assumptions beneath it remain untested. This article examines how leaders can test confidence, preserve room to adjust and maintain accountability after approval.

A perspective on the strategic implications of entering a conversation about water-service restructuring, and the questions municipalities should consider before signalling a preferred direction.