Water Consumption by Data Centres in the Country

03 Apr 2026 CW Team

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology reported that it had not received any concerns regarding water consumption by data centres in the country. The government is promoting the establishment and use of digital technology to strengthen infrastructure and improve delivery of digital services across sectors. This policy emphasis is intended to democratise technological development and support expansion of computing capacity. The approach is intended to create equitable access to services and to support regional economic activity.\n\nAs reported, data centre capacity in the country has increased from 375 Megawatt (MW) in 2020 to more than 1500 MW by 2025, reflecting rapid growth in demand. Operators have been adopting new cooling approaches to improve water efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Technologies cited include direct-to-chip liquid cooling, adiabatic cooling and immersion cooling, all aimed at reducing water use. The combination of technologies and operational adjustments is said to reduce dependence on freshwater sources and to lower operating costs.\n\nIndustry participants have also deployed high density racks to support high-performance computing and artificial intelligence workloads while seeking further reductions in power and water consumption. These measures are reported to improve overall water use efficiency across operations. The Ministry of Jal Shakti has issued regulatory guidance to control groundwater extraction under notification number S.O. 3289(E) dated 24.09.2020 and an amendment dated 29.03.2023. Regulatory measures aim to ensure extraction is monitored and sustainable while allowing technological solutions to advance.\n\nThe information was provided by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Choudhary, in a written reply to a parliamentary question in the Rajya Sabha. The account indicates that data centres are spread across the country and that ongoing technological and regulatory measures together lower water requirements. Officials expect that continued adoption of efficient cooling and operational practices will help balance digital expansion with sustainable water management.

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