Amazon Datacenters Used 2.5 Billion Gallons of Water Last Year
Amazon disclosed its global datacenters consumed approximately 2.5 billion gallons of water in 2025. The tech giant aims to be "water positive" by 2030, returning more water to communities than it uses, while facing increasing scrutiny over the environmental impact of datacenters.
Key points
- Amazon's datacenters globally used 2.5 billion gallons of water in 2025.
- The company reported a water usage intensity of 0.12 liters per kilowatt-hour.
- Amazon claims its consumption is lower than competitors like Microsoft (0.27 L/kWh), Meta (0.19 L/kWh), and Google (1.15 L/kWh).
- The company is pursuing a goal to be "water positive" by 2030.
- This disclosure occurs amid public concern over water-intensive datacenter operations.
Amazon has revealed that its worldwide datacenters consumed an estimated 2.5 billion gallons of water in 2025. The tech giant detailed its water usage intensity at 0.12 liters per kilowatt-hour, positioning it as more efficient than several competitors, including Microsoft, Meta, and Google, whose figures for 2025 or 2024 were reported as significantly higher.
The company is working towards its 2030 target of becoming "water positive," a commitment made in 2022. This initiative involves returning more water to the environment than consumed through methods like rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment for reuse. Amazon compared its water usage to that of American residential lawn and garden watering, suggesting a relatively lower impact per capita.
This announcement comes at a time of increasing public concern and opposition to new datacenter constructions in the United States. Surveys indicate widespread public apprehension regarding the electricity demands, visual impact, and substantial water requirements of such facilities, particularly in areas already facing water scarcity.
Sources
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