Bridge Data Centres Becomes First in Malaysia to Apply Effluent Water, Cooling Technologies

Bridge Data Centres a leading regional provider of hyperscale data centre solutions, has partnered with Johor Special Water (JSW) to embark on Malaysia’s first Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) integrated within a data centre facility. The Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) is the first of its kind, repurposing treated effluent from a nearby Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) facility and converting it into high-grade reclaimed water suitable for data centre cooling.

The plant applies advanced Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) and Reverse Osmosis (RO) technologies to deliver superior water recovery and quality. Located at the MY07 campus in Ulu Tiram, Johor, the initiative is an exciting step forward in aligning high-performance digital infrastructure with national sustainability goals.

Eric Fan, CEO of Bridge Data Centres, said the project demonstrates BDC’s commitment to environmental leadership and sustainable growth in Malaysia.

“This is more than a technical achievement—it is an innovative response to growing industry demand for hyperscalers which vie for water resources. Bridge Data Centres’ investments in infrastructure and technologies in this plant are anchored on harvesting recycled water for industrial use instead of competing for potable water supplies,” said Fan.

Bridge Data Centre Aiming to Reduce Reliance on Potable Water

The plant significantly reduces reliance on potable water and strengthens the long-term resilience of Bridge Data Centres’ operations while supporting Johor’s broader environmental agenda. With cumulative investments in Johor exceeding billions, the Bridge Data Centres facility in MY07 is designed to support up to over 200MW of IT load across multiple phases and serves cloud providers, Artificial Intelligence compute operators, and mission-critical enterprises across Southeast Asia.

More than 200 skilled jobs in engineering, IT, and operations have been created as part of the MY07 development. Fan added that the project was designed in full compliance with guidelines issued by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), and that Bridge Data Centres worked closely with regulatory agencies, JSW, IWK, and Permodalan Darul Ta’zim (PDT) throughout the planning and execution phases.

In addition to the Water Reclamation Plant, Bridge Data Centres’ broader water sustainability strategy includes rainwater harvesting, condensate recovery, and the exploration of alternative effluent sources to diversify supply and minimise environmental impact. The plant also features smart water metering for real-time monitoring, enabling a more efficient and measurable approach to water use.

Target Date of Operations Is Nearing

Currently in its final commissioning phase, the Water Reclamation Plant is expected to be fully operational by the fourth quarter of 2025. Test runs have already demonstrated water quality outputs that exceed industry standards.

This initiative not only sets a new benchmark for sustainable data centre operations but also positions Johor as a rising hub for climate-conscious digital infrastructure in the region. As the demand for hyperscale capacity continues to grow, this model offers a blueprint for how the industry can address resource challenges through innovation and partnership.

Bridge Data Centres currently has six data centres in operation or development across Malay