Selangor to encourage data centres to use raw or recycled water to not affect consumer water supply
SHAH ALAM, April 29 — New data centre developments in Selangor are encouraged to use recycled water or treat raw water to suitable standards for cooling system needs.
State Investment, Trade and Mobility Committee chairman Ng Sze Han said the initiative is among proposals by the state government to ensure sustainable water resource management, while avoiding disruption to treated water supplies for consumers.
“Water demand from data centres is indeed very high. However, we must distinguish between water required for data centres and drinking water. Data centres do not necessarily require treated, potable-quality water,” he said in the Selangor state legislative assembly on Wednesday.
“Therefore, for new data centres, in addition to emphasising power and water usage effectiveness, we are encouraging water recycling and also the use of other methods, such as sourcing raw water for treatment appropriate to data centre usage,” he added.
Ng was responding to an additional question from Michelle Ng Mei Sze (PH-Subang Jaya), who raised concerns over the high water consumption of data centres and its potential impact on domestic clean water supply in Selangor.
He also said the state government would ensure the availability of essential infrastructure, including stable electricity supply, high-capacity telecommunications networks and sufficient water resources, to support high-technology industries.
Ng added that the development and investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and data centres are currently concentrated in several strategic local authority areas, including Sepang, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam and Klang.
