Strategic Water Partnership Signals New Era for APAC Data Center Sustainability
Bridge Data Centres (BDC) has established a groundbreaking ten-year industrial water supply agreement with Eastwater Stecon Utilities Co (EWS) for its emerging hyperscale campus in Chonburi Province, Thailand. The partnership, commencing May 2026, represents a significant step in addressing the critical water requirements of large-scale digital infrastructure while maintaining environmental responsibility.
Eric Fan, CEO of Bridge Data Centres, emphasized the strategic importance of this arrangement: “As we continue expanding our data center footprint in Thailand, a stable utility ecosystem is key to delivering world-class digital infrastructure that supports artificial intelligence and computing strategies along with the nation’s digital transformation ambitions.”
Eastern Economic Corridor: Thailand’s Digital Transformation Epicenter
The QH101 facility, spanning approximately 16 hectares in Khlong Tamru Subdistrict within Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor, broke ground in July. Positioned strategically south of Bangkok, the campus represents a total investment of approximately $1.2 billion and is projected to deliver up to 200MW of capacity at full build-out, positioning Thailand as a significant player in the regional digital infrastructure landscape.
Sampan Chanaburanasak, director of STECON Power, commented on the partnership’s significance: “We are proud to supply Bridge Data Centres with industrial water for its Chonburi campus. This collaboration highlights EWS and the Eastwater Group’s role as a leading integrated water-management provider and reflects confidence in our water-management capability. BDC will benefit from a safe, high-quality, and uninterrupted water supply that complies with international sustainability and safety standards.”
APAC-Wide Sustainable Water Strategy
BDC’s approach to water management extends beyond Thailand, reflecting a comprehensive regional strategy for sustainable operations. The company has established multiple partnerships with water utilities across APAC to utilize treated wastewater for cooling purposes, a critical consideration given the industry developments in environmental stewardship.
In August, BDC signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Johor Special Water for wastewater utilization across its Malaysian operations, demonstrating the company’s consistent commitment to innovative resource management. This pattern of strategic partnerships illustrates how leading data center operators are addressing the complex challenges of related innovations in infrastructure sustainability.
Regional Expansion and Strategic Positioning
Owned by Bain Capital, BDC maintains a focused APAC expansion strategy with six data centers currently in operation or development across Malaysia alone. The company’s growth trajectory includes the initial 16MW facility at its MY03 site in Kuala Lumpur’s Mranti Park, announced in 2021, with subsequent expansion plans revealed in 2023.
BDC’s operational portfolio includes two data centers in Cyberjaya with a third under development, complemented by a facility launched near Johor in 2022. In Thailand, the company strengthened its presence through the acquisition of a Bangkok data center in 2022, establishing a foundation for its current ambitious expansion. These strategic moves reflect broader market trends in digital infrastructure investment across Southeast Asia.
Water Management: The Critical Infrastructure Component
The emphasis on sustainable water sourcing represents a growing recognition within the industry that reliable water access is as crucial as power availability for data center operations. Cooling systems, which consume significant water resources, are essential for maintaining optimal operating conditions in hyperscale facilities.
This focus on resource management aligns with global movements toward more sustainable industrial practices, including recent technology initiatives that prioritize environmental considerations alongside operational efficiency. The decade-long commitment to sustainable water supply demonstrates long-term planning in an industry where resource availability increasingly influences site selection and operational viability.
Industry Implications and Future Outlook
BDC’s comprehensive approach to water sustainability sets a significant precedent for the data center industry throughout APAC. As digital infrastructure continues to expand to support artificial intelligence workloads and regional digital transformation, the integration of sustainable resource management becomes increasingly critical to long-term operational success.
The partnership between BDC and EWS represents more than a simple utility agreement—it signifies a strategic alignment between digital infrastructure providers and resource management specialists. This collaborative model may influence future industry developments as operators seek to balance exponential growth with environmental responsibility.
As detailed in the priority coverage of this arrangement, the commitment to sustainable water management reflects evolving industry standards that prioritize both operational excellence and environmental stewardship. This approach mirrors broader transformations across the technology sector, including related innovations in sustainable infrastructure development.
The Chonburi campus, with its substantial investment and capacity, positions Thailand as an emerging hub for digital infrastructure in Southeast Asia, while the focus on sustainable resource management establishes a benchmark for future developments throughout the region.
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