Residents of Batam, Indonesia, have protested over water shortages they claim are linked to the expansion of data centres on the island, which is positioning itself as a digital hub.
Residents of Batam, Indonesia, gathered in protest outside a data centre compound, accusing the facilities of diverting water resources away from homes. Protesters reported that their taps had been dry for three months, forcing them to rely on water delivered by tanker trucks, which they described as dirty and smelly.
Authorities have previously instructed data centre operators to build their own desalination plants rather than relying on local reservoirs. However, locals continue to express concerns that they are competing with the centres for water. Reliable data on water usage by data centres in Indonesia remains limited, as companies often treat such information as proprietary.
Why it matters
Residents of Batam are directly affected by the competition for water resources between data centres and local communities.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.
What to watch
The implementation of desalination plants by data centre operators in Batam and the availability of transparent water usage data.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.