Data centers require power to operate and significant volumes of water for cooling. In Negeri Sembilan, Google has announced a $160 million (~RM 651 million) investment in the state’s water infrastructure—a move designed to support not only its data centers but also the local population's water supply.
This initiative addresses concerns regarding the water consumption of large-scale data centers and aligns with Google’s global ambition to replenish 120% of the freshwater it consumes. The investment will fund the construction of an off-river water storage reservoir and a water treatment plant, capable of supplying 65 million liters of clean water daily for domestic, commercial, and data center use.
The tech giant has appointed Gamuda Bhd to execute the project, in coordination with the Negeri Sembilan state government and Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan Sdn Bhd (SAINS). Upon completion, these facilities will be owned by Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan Incorporated (MBINS), a state statutory body responsible for managing government assets.
This new infrastructure will support the data center campus planned by Google at the Springhill Industrial Park in Port Dickson. Situated along the Linggi River, the off-river storage reservoir will capture excess river flow and rainwater—particularly during periods of high water availability—while simultaneously serving a secondary function as a retention basin to help mitigate flooding.
