Amazon says its data centers use 2.5 billion gallons of water
Amazon has disclosed that its data centers globally used 2.5 billion gallons of water last year, amidst ongoing debates about data center resource consumption. The company asserts its cooling methods are more efficient than some peers. This announcement comes as some US cities and states are considering or implementing moratoriums on data center construction.
Amazon.com Inc. revealed that its data centers consumed 2.5 billion gallons of water worldwide in the past year, representing approximately 5% of metro Seattle's annual water usage. The company, through its cloud-computing arm Amazon Web Services (AWS), stated this disclosure highlights its more efficient cooling practices compared to some larger tech industry counterparts.
The announcement is made amid a contentious debate surrounding the water and electricity consumption of data centers. Several US states and cities, including Seattle, Amazon's home base, have explored or enacted moratoriums on new data center developments to allow for further study of their environmental impacts. Critics, including water researchers and community advocates like Iris Stewart-Frey, a professor of environmental science at Santa Clara University, are calling for greater transparency and more granular data from companies like Amazon to help communities assess the true costs and benefits. This push for transparency has seen some success, such as the city of The Dalles, Oregon, agreeing to release records of Google's data center water usage after a legal dispute, and Utah passing a new law requiring water withdrawal disclosures for large data centers.
Kerry Person, an AWS vice president overseeing data center operations, defended the company's data, stating it clarifies the industry's actual water use versus public perception. Amazon's cooling methods include using air blown through water-soaked filters on hot days, with facilities in water-scarce regions like Phoenix opting for closed-loop air-cooled chillers. The company reported a water usage effectiveness of 0.12 liters per kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed last year, a decrease from 0.15 liters in 2024, and notably more efficient than Microsoft's 0.27 liters/kWh.
Amazon's water usage figures encompass both evaporated water and liquid discharged into wastewater. The company has committed to being