For the first time ever, Amazon has released figures regarding the water consumption of its data centers.
Amazon’s data centers reportedly consume seven times less water per unit of computing power than the industry average. The tech giant shared this in a new blog post. At 0.12 liters per kilowatt-hour, they outperform competitors such as Microsoft, Google, and Meta. Additionally, the company is working on 50 projects that return 5.8 billion liters of water to local communities annually.
Amazon states that its global data centers consume a mere 0.12 liters of water per kilowatt-hour. This is seven times more efficient than the industry average of 0.84 liters. Since 2021, the company has improved its water efficiency by 52 percent.
Efficient cooling and reuse
Amazon’s data centers use ‘free air cooling’ 90 percent of the time, utilizing outside air to cool servers. They only switch to evaporative cooling—where water is misted to dissipate heat—during the hottest periods. This saves 25 to 35 percent more energy compared to traditional cooling systems.
Furthermore, Amazon is raising the temperature thresholds within which servers can operate. By allowing servers to function better at higher temperatures, water consumption for cooling decreases significantly. In Northern Virginia, for example, water usage dropped by 42 percent year-over-year.
Water positive by 2030
Amazon aims to be water positive by 2030: for every liter of water it consumes, it intends to return more than a liter to communities. In 2025, the company already returned three liters for every four liters it used. With more than 50 water projects worldwide, which together are expected to return 5.8 billion liters of water annually, Amazon is already 75 percent on track.
Local projects and reuse
Amazon invests in projects that reuse water or store it for dry periods. In Hermiston, Oregon, water from the Columbia River is stored in an aquifer. In Spain and Mexico, they are working on projects that reuse wastewater or combat river pollution. The company also uses recycled water in 26 facilities, with another 130 in development.