Energy & Sustainability

Google announces water infrastructure initiative in Malaysia

Google announces water infrastructure initiative in Malaysia

Given the ongoing worries in many countries about the demands of data centres on water supply, recent news from Google in Malaysia is undoubtedly timely.

The multinational technology corporation says that it is providing US$160 million in funding for new shared water infrastructure to support local community needs – and its future data centre operations – in the state of Negeri Sembilan on the southwestern coast of the Malay Peninsula.

In coordination with the State Government of Negeri Sembilan and state-owned water supply and management company SAINS, Google has appointed engineering and construction company Gamuda to build an off-river storage reservoir and water treatment plant. Upon completion, these facilities will be owned by MBINS, the statutory body under the state government that manages state assets as part of its remit.

Once operational, the plant will have the capacity to deliver 65 million litres of potable water daily – not only serving Google's upcoming data center campus in Springhill Industrial Park, Port Dickson, but also expanding the state’s supply for public use.

Located along the Linggi River, the off-river storage reservoir is designed to capture excess river flow and rainfall – especially during high-yield seasons – to help mitigate flood risks in surrounding flood-prone areas.

The captured raw water can then be channelled through the treatment plant to be purified for domestic and commercial use. During lower-yield periods, the plant can draw directly from the reservoir’s reserves, maintaining a resilient water supply for the community without disrupting the river’s natural flow.

Google’s digital infrastructure development in Negeri Sembilan encompasses an upcoming data centre campus, new shared water infrastructure, and targeted education and workforce development programmes.

The company will also pay for 100% of the power its data centre campus uses and the direct infrastructure costs required to connect it to the grid, while complying with all applicable local regulations. Google explains that its commitment to Negeri Sembilan spans the construction phase and multi-decade operational lifecycle of its campus.

Google adds that the planned data centre campus in Port Dickson is custom-designed from the ground up to be among the most energy-efficient in the world.



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