As AI Booms, Amazon Admits Its Data Centres Used 9 Billion Litres Of Water In 2025
Amazon disclosed its global data centers consumed approximately 9 billion liters of water in 2025, sparking growing concerns about water and electricity usage by AI companies. The company noted a 2% decline in water use in directly-owned facilities despite expansion. This comes as Seattle approved a one-year moratorium on new data centers.
Amazon announced that its global data center operations consumed approximately 2.5 billion gallons (over 9 billion liters) of water in 2025, amidst rising concerns over the environmental impact of AI expansion. Despite this massive figure, the company reported a 2% reduction in water usage at its directly-owned and operated facilities compared to 2024, even as its data center network continued to grow.
The disclosure comes as governments, environmental organizations, and local communities increasingly question the substantial electricity and water demands of AI systems. In a significant local development, Seattle recently enacted a one-year moratorium on new data center construction, a policy reportedly backed by some Amazon employees.
Amazon highlighted the efficiency of its operations, stating its data centers used 0.12 liters of water per kilowatt-hour of electricity in 2025, claiming this is lower than figures from competitors like Google, Microsoft, and Meta. However, the company noted that its figure encompasses all data centers, unlike Google's, which specifically covers Gemini AI data centers, known for higher water use due to intense cooling needs. Meanwhile, a United Nations University report warns that global data center electricity and water consumption could nearly double by 2030 due to burgeoning AI demand.