Amazon AI data centers may use reclaimed water in Mississippi

Amazon and Veolia have partnered to propose a reclaimed water system for cooling Amazon's data centers in Mississippi, a move aimed at mitigating concerns over the state's expanding data center footprint and its impact on local water resources. The plan involves Veolia treating wastewater from nearby facilities for reuse in Amazon's cooling systems, with an expected operational start in 2027. This initiative comes amid significant investment by Amazon in the state, including an additional $12 billion announced recently, complementing an existing $10 billion data center campus in Madison County. State leaders, like Gov. Tate Reeves, have championed these projects for their economic development, though public pushback has called for greater transparency on long-term resource issues. The reclaimed water system, touted by Amazon and Veolia, is projected to reuse over 83 million gallons of water annually, which would otherwise be drawn from municipal systems or aquifers. Will Hewes, Amazon’s global water stewardship lead, emphasized the collaboration's potential to advance sustainable water use. Estelle Brachlianoff, Veolia's CEO, underscored the project's goal to balance economic growth with resource protection by replacing potable water with reclaimed water. The modular design of Veolia's treatment units could also allow for scalability and replication at other data center sites. The proposal is part of Amazon's broader commitment to becoming "water positive" by 2030 and addresses specific concerns raised in Madison County regarding water sourcing for hyperscale data centers. Local utilities and regulators still need to approve the water sourcing and discharge plans before the system can commence operations.