More Than Half of India’s Data Centres Are in Water-Stressed Regions
India’s rapidly growing data centre sector faces increasing exposure to water stress risks.
Data centres require large volumes of water to stay cool, yet more than half are built in water-stressed regions. Their geographical spread is also heavily concentrated, with 75% of all data centres located across just five states: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh, which together account for 278 facilities nationally. Many of these are situated in regions classified as having high or extremely high water stress, where demand significantly exceeds available renewable supplies.
As India's digital infrastructure expands rapidly and AI drives the next wave of growth, the environmental footprint of data centres is becoming harder to ignore. Conversations are widening beyond energy consumption to include water stress, land use, and broader environmental impacts.
This infographic maps the distribution of data centres alongside regional water stress levels, highlighting the growing intersection between digital infrastructure and water security.
Explore the data here: Datacentermap and WRI Aqueduct