AdaniConneX’s planned data centre campuses in Visakhapatnam, being developed in partnership with Google, are expected to use air-cooled systems instead of conventional water-based evaporative cooling. The approach is intended to reduce freshwater consumption as the city develops into a major hub for artificial intelligence (AI) and digital infrastructure.

 

The proposed campuses, including developments at Mudasarlova and Tarluvada, form part of a larger AI infrastructure project with a planned capacity of approximately 1 gigawatt. According to project details reported by PTI, freshwater consumption across the three sites is expected to remain below the volume of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Around 80% of the limited freshwater requirement is expected to go towards landscaping, kitchens and worker facilities. The project plans also include recycling and reusing water on-site to improve water efficiency.

 

The facilities are expected to have dedicated industrial water connections rather than draw supplies directly from municipal water lines. Domestic wastewater will be treated at on-site sewage treatment plants and reused for purposes such as landscape irrigation and toilet flushing. The reported plans state that treated wastewater will not be discharged into Mudasarlova Reservoir.

 

The proposed measures come amid public debate over the environmental implications of large data centres, particularly their demand for water and electricity and their proximity to ecologically sensitive areas. Mudasarlova Reservoir and the adjoining Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary have featured prominently in concerns raised by environmental activists.

The project’s proposed cooling and wastewater systems could help limit its direct freshwater requirements. However, the actual environmental impact will also depend on implementation, operational performance, energy sourcing and effective monitoring of water use.

As Visakhapatnam attracts major investments in AI and digital infrastructure, balancing economic development with the protection of local water resources remains an important issue for the city.