AdaniConneX and Google plan to use air-cooling technology at their proposed data centre campuses in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, to reduce freshwater consumption. The three planned sites are expected to use less freshwater than the volume of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, according to project details reported on October 18, 2026.
The campuses at Mudasarlova and Tarluvada form part of a proposed data centre development with a capacity of around 1 gigawatt (GW). The project is expected to support Visakhapatnam’s emergence as a hub for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital infrastructure.
Air Cooling to Reduce Water Use
Unlike conventional data centres that rely on water-intensive evaporative cooling and cooling towers, the proposed facilities will use air-based cooling systems. This approach is intended to eliminate the need for water-based evaporative cooling and reduce pressure on local freshwater resources.
Around 80% of the limited freshwater required across the three sites will be used for landscaping, kitchens and employee facilities. Water will be recycled and reused within the campuses, according to sources familiar with the project.
Dedicated Water Connections and Wastewater Recycling
The facilities are expected to receive dedicated industrial water connections instead of drawing supplies from municipal lines. The arrangement aims to reduce competition with households for drinking water.
The campuses will also follow a zero-discharge policy for domestic wastewater. Wastewater will be treated at on-site sewage treatment plants and reused for landscaping and toilet flushing. No treated wastewater is expected to be discharged into the Mudasarlova Reservoir, according to project details.
Data Centre Expansion and Environmental Concerns
The project comes amid debate over the water and energy requirements of large-scale data centres. Environmental activists have raised concerns about the proposed development’s proximity to the Mudasarlova Reservoir, which supplies drinking water to Visakhapatnam, and the adjoining Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary.
Andhra Pradesh is seeking to attract major investments in AI and digital infrastructure. The proposed AdaniConneX-Google facilities are part of this expansion, with water-efficient cooling and wastewater reuse positioned as measures to reduce their impact on local resources.
AdaniConneX, a joint venture between Adani Enterprises and US-based EdgeConneX, is developing data centre infrastructure to serve India’s growing demand for cloud computing and AI services.
