The island where locals say data centres are taking their water

What the report says

Residents on Indonesia’s Batam island have accused data centre development of worsening local water shortages, according to BBC World News. In a protest at the Nongsa Digital Park compound, about 300 people carried empty containers and demanded an end to the water cuts affecting nearby communities. One resident told the BBC that her village had gone without tap water for three months, forcing families to rely on tanker deliveries.

Local authorities gave different explanations for the shortage. Batam’s water utility said it was working to improve supply but did not address any link to data centre demand. BP Batam, the agency overseeing trade and industry, blamed a prolonged dry period and rejected claims that household water was being diverted to servers. The BBC said residents remain concerned because Batam’s reservoirs are already under pressure as the island seeks to become a digital hub.

The story places the dispute in a broader regional trend: companies are expanding data centre capacity in Southeast Asia as demand grows for AI infrastructure, while nearby communities worry about water, electricity and noise. BBC reporting noted that Indonesian authorities have already told some firms to build desalination plants rather than rely on reservoirs. Background cited by the BBC also suggests data centres can use substantial amounts of water for cooling, though the exact consumption of the Batam facilities is not publicly clear.

Batam has approved multiple data centre projects, and more proposals remain under review. The issue matters because it highlights the tension between attracting technology investment and protecting basic services for local residents.