KDM Responds to Controversy Over AI Data Centre Construction in Jatiluhur, Highlighting Water Usage
West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has requested that the construction of the AI-based data centre owned by BDx in Jatiluhur, Purwakarta Regency, does not interfere with the water requirements for agriculture. He received explanations that the water requirement for the AI data centre reaches 384 litres per second (LPS).
“We must ensure that as Indonesia progresses, entrepreneurs do not have to fight political controversies from the very start. Is the water supply sufficient? Will it disturb the farmers?” said the man affectionately known as Kang Dedi Muly apparently during a sudden inspection of the AI Campus 2 (CGK4) project in the Jatiluhur area on Monday (28/09/2026).
He stated that water requirements are an aspect that must be ensured from the outset, as the project is expected to expand gradually until it reaches a large capacity. With a requirement of 384 litres per second, or approximately 0.4 cubic metres per second, water consumption during full operation will reach around 33,000 cubic metres per day. However, the water requirement will not reach that figure immediately, as the initial phase is estimated to require around 6,000 cubic metres.
KDM requested that the government ensure this increase in water demand does not reduce the allocation previously designated for agriculture. He continued by noting that the water source for the BDx project in Jatiluhur differs from the potential water sources of other data centres in West Java.
According to KDM, BDx does not take water directly from PJT II but instead purchases water through the local water utility (PDAM). “In this case, the water is still taken from Jatiluhur, but it enters through the PDAM. The intention is to take water from Jatiluhur, pass it through the PDAM, and then buy the water from the PDAM. It is different,” he explained.
KDM stated that the difference in the source and the mechanism of water extraction is important. This is because water taken directly from river networks, such as the Citarum, has specific allocations that must be respected, including for agricultural use.
He cited the existence of data centres in the Karawang region, which require further investigation regarding their water sources. “In Karawang, the water source must come from PJT, using the Citarum, right? West Citarum,” he noted.
KDM requested that information regarding the water sources of other data centres in West Java also be examined objectively. He reminded that water from the Jatiluhur system is not used solely by the residents of Purwakarta.