Jakarta, INTI - Residents of Kavling Sambau, Nongsa District, Batam, have reported experiencing prolonged water shortages, with some households saying their water supply has been completely cut off for months. Residents suspect the situation may be linked to the development of data centers in the Nongsa area.
“There is a strong possibility. I have never said that the data center is 100 percent responsible for the water shortage. However, since construction of the data center began, we have been completely affected by the disruption,” said Andi Lalang, Head of RT 03/RW 02 in Sambau, as quoted by Detik.com on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Andi explained that residents in his neighborhood had been experiencing disruptions for an extended period. Water that was previously available for only several hours a day has now stopped flowing altogether.
Residents in the area have also staged a protest, with Andi saying the action was prompted by the lack of a solution to the water supply problem. Around 300 people reportedly participated in the protest.
BP Batam Investigates Water Supply Amid Data Center Expansion
Deputy for Business Development at the Batam Concession Agency (BP Batam), Denny Tondano, responded to the issue and said the agency would investigate the water distribution network and sources serving each area.
“We will check where the water is coming from. As an example, even different neighborhoods can have different supply lines. It was just mentioned that RT 3 has water while RT 4 does not. That is what we need to investigate to understand how the distribution network operates,” Denny said.
He also explained that the water supply situation in Nongsa is not solely related to data center development, as the area has also been affected by the dry season. Nongsa’s water production normally reaches around 90 liters per second (LPS), but current production has fallen to approximately 25 LPS.
To help meet demand, BP Batam is utilizing additional water supplies from the Duriangkang Reservoir. Denny also denied claims that water was being diverted to data centers, including allegations that as much as 160 LPS was being supplied to data center facilities.
“If I said 160 LPS, I would know exactly how much was being delivered. It is not possible for us to send 160 LPS from there. That simply does not happen,” Denny said.
According to Denny, several operating data centers are also preparing their own water treatment systems. One data center area, he noted, already has such a facility in operation.
“They have their own water treatment system there. Its production capacity is quite substantial, and that is what they are currently using,” he said.
Conclusion
The water supply disruptions in Batam’s Nongsa area have raised concerns among residents amid the rapid expansion of data centers. While residents suspect data center development may have contributed to the issue, BP Batam has pointed to multiple factors, including reduced water production during the dry season. The situation highlights the need for reliable water management and sustainable resource planning as Batam continues to develop as a regional data center hub.
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