DayOne is planning to integrate the use of alternative water sources into its data center operations in Johor, Malaysia.

The Singapore-based data center developer will undertake the initiative in partnership with Johor State Water Company (JSW) and BM Tek, a water solutions company. As part of the project, the company intends to implement Malaysia’s first river water treatment system dedicated to data center operations at its Kempas Tech Park facility in Johor.

The system works by drawing and treating raw water from the Sungai Tebrau (Tebrau River), which runs through the city, under an agreement with JSW, the state's supplier of water. Operations are expected to commence in November of this year, with the initiative aiming to reduce the reliance on potable water for use in data centers.

The project is part of the larger Johor River for Life program, which aims to engage with the public and businesses in efforts that support river health and long-term sustainability. It features a range of hands-on activities, educational programs, and community projects aimed at building connections between people and their local waterways, encouraging stewardship and ongoing protection.

Commenting on the announcement, Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof noted that data center operators adopting alternative water solutions set a new benchmark for responsible industry practices nationwide.

The Kempas Tech Park data center is currently under construction. The data center is expected to be powered through renewable sources, with DayOne recently signing a 500MW solar deal to power its operations in Malaysia over the next 21 years.

Water sustainability measures are gaining popularity amongst data center operators seeking to improve their sustainability credentials. Earlier this month, Bridge Data Centres announced it would use treated wastewater (aka sewage) for cooling at its data center in Johor.

The major hyperscalers have also begun to utilize wastewater in their operations. Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Apple have all undertaken measures to expand the use of wastewater at several locations.