As Bengaluru once again struggles with summer water shortages, a new concern has moved to the centre of policy discussions — the city’s rapidly expanding data centres and the huge volumes of water they require.
With Karnataka preparing to revise its data centre policy, Priyank Kharge recently warned that data centres are “heavy water and energy guzzlers” and called for a greener approach.
Massive water demand under scrutiny
According to estimates cited in policy discussions, 1 megawatt of data centre capacity may require nearly 25 million litres of water annually.
Independent researchers suggest Bengaluru’s data centres could be consuming around 20 million litres per day, though no official consolidated tracking system currently exists.
Experts say much of this water is used for cooling high-powered servers that run continuously.
City residents face rationing
While households in several Bengaluru neighbourhoods depend on tankers and face usage restrictions each summer, critics say data centres in the same stressed zones often operate without equivalent limits.
Water experts argue that drinking water should be prioritised for citizens, while industrial cooling needs can be met through treated wastewater.
Push for treated water solution
The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board has reportedly piloted projects to convert treated sewage water into cooling-grade water for industrial use.
Officials believe this could significantly reduce dependence on freshwater if adopted at scale.
Future centres may move beyond Bengaluru
The state is also exploring alternative locations such as Mangaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi and Shivamogga for future data centres, citing better sustainability and lower urban stress.
Growth versus survival
The debate highlights a growing challenge for Bengaluru — balancing digital growth with the basic need for water.
As the city modernises, experts say sustainability can no longer remain optional.