Virginia Counties Allocate Millions of Gallons of Water Daily to Amazon Data Centers
Four Virginia counties have allocated at least 19.6 million gallons of water daily to Amazon for data center cooling, raising concerns about environmental impact, especially during droughts. The authors question Amazon's 'water positive' claims and highlight the company's significant political influence and tax exemptions in the state.
Local governments in four Virginia counties—Louisa, Spotsylvania, Caroline, and Stafford—have allocated at least 19.6 million gallons of water per day to Amazon for data center cooling operations. This significant allocation, uncovered through public records and FOIA requests, is considered an underestimate by the authors, Eric Bonds, Braderick Hatch Jr., and Fiona Steffens, writing for The Virginia Mercury.
The article critically examines Amazon's claim of being "water positive," noting that while the company invests in infrastructure like "purple pipe" systems for treated wastewater reuse, more than half of the water used for cooling is lost through evaporation. Concerns are particularly high regarding the timing of this water diversion during peak summer months when river flows are lowest and the state is prone to severe droughts. Amazon asserts that cooling water is only needed about 4% of the year, a claim the authors find strains credulity given the investment in water systems.
Beyond environmental concerns, the piece highlights Amazon's substantial economic and political influence in Virginia, citing its lobbying expenditures and political campaign contributions. The company, along with other data center operators in Virginia, benefits from a sales and use tax exemption that costs the state nearly $2 billion annually and is currently a sticking point in ongoing state budget negotiations.