Nancy Armour – 022322 Citizen Press Conference at QTS Data Centers offices
9301 Freedom Center Dr., Manassas, VA
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BIO: Nancy Armour has been a resident of Woodbridge, VA in Prince William County for the past 34 years.
Her children attended Prince William County public schools. Her professional career includes executive leadership positions in the telecommunications and information technology industry, including many years developing cloud and data center solutions for Federal and Department of Defense agencies.
On any given day, you will find Nancy, her family and friends enjoying boating on the Occoquan and Potomac Rivers.
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My name is Nancy Armour. I have been a resident of Prince William County for 34 years. I live 2 miles from the Occoquan River and 2 miles from the Potomac River.
I do not drink bottled water. I fill this water bottle up 4 times a day from my faucet, with water from the Occoquan. That’s why I am here today.
When I read the media release for today, I wondered who the community activists were who would be speaking today. Then I realized they meant me. I don’t consider myself a community activist. I am a tap water girl. And I am confused and very concerned. And that’s why I am here to speak.
Prince William County Board of Supervisors is planning to change land for over 2,000 acres from Rural Area and Environmental Resource to Tech Flex, with the expressed purpose to be developed for data center use.
I am confused as to why the Prince William County Supervisors would vote on this BEFORE ANY studies are conducted to analyze how this will impact our water source.
I am concerned that Prince William County Supervisors will make an irreversible decision that will impact our water source forever.
The land being considered for development is the Occoquan Reservoir Watershed. The Occoquan Reservoir supplies 40% of the clean drinking water for nearly 2 million people, and in an emergency, can supply the whole demand. Over half the population of Prince William County relies solely on the Occoquan for our clean water each day. And the rest of the county, and Fairfax County, rely on a combination of the Occoquan and Potomac Rivers for their daily supply.
What is the impact of changing hundreds, perhaps thousands, of acres of wooded forest, grass land and agriculture to industrial use with concrete buildings and asphalt parking lots on the Occoquan Reservoir? What will happen to the water when the roads are widened and traffic, especially truck traffic, is increased substantially?
What is the impact on the flowers, plants, and trees?
What is the impact on the insects, birds and animals that rely on the water in this area?
What is the impact on me, and the water I drink?
We don’t know. We can only guess. Because Prince William County has not, and does not plan, to conduct any water studies before a vote is conducted.
I am speaking today to preserve the water the I drink every day.
I am here today to ask QTS to uphold their commitment to corporate responsibility through their key Environmental, Social and Governance initiatives. QTS must abandon their attempt to build an 800 acre industrial park on the land that I, and the citizens of Prince William and Fairfax County, rely on for clean drinking water.
QTS, if you want to build more in Prince William County, you are welcome. But build in the areas the County has already designated for data center and industrial use. Or feel free to expand your existing facilities in Loudon County, or anywhere else in the world.
In my wedding vows, I told my husband that he was marrying a tap water girl. And I want to stay that way.