Residents of Batam Protest Water Shortages Linked to Data Centres

Residents of Batam, Indonesia, protested against water shortages, claiming that data centres in the Nongsa Digital Park are consuming water needed for their homes. Approximately 300 locals gathered at a data centre compound, expressing frustration over the lack of water supply for the past three months. Dewi Susanti, a protester from Bakau Serip, stated that they have been relying on tanker trucks for water that is often dirty and unreliable. The local water utility acknowledged the supply issues but did not confirm if they were related to the data centres. BP Batam, the agency overseeing trade and industry, attributed the shortages to a prolonged dry spell and denied that water for homes was being diverted to data centres. This protest follows previous demonstrations in August and September, leading authorities to require data centre operators to build their own desalination plants. Agus Hasan, a professor, highlighted the lack of reliable data on water usage by data centres, emphasizing the need for transparency. The global backlash against data centres is growing due to concerns about their impact on local resources. Research indicates that a typical data centre can consume around 300,000 gallons of water daily, equivalent to the needs of 1,000 households. Batam's population of 1.3 million relies on six artificial reservoirs for water, and projections suggest that the Nongsa reservoir may dry up within a month without rainfall. Local residents are facing increased financial burdens as they spend money on water instead of food. Batam's water utility has mentioned considering cloud seeding to address the shortages. Currently, there are ten approved data centres in Batam, with significant investments expected to exceed $6.7 billion by mid-2026. The proximity to Singapore, which has paused data centre construction due to land constraints, has made Batam an attractive alternative for investors. However, local residents are urging the government to prioritize their water needs over new investments.