AWS plans to use recycled water to cool over 120 U.S. data centers by 2030, conserving 530 million gallons of fresh water annually.
The initiative supports Amazon’s goal to be ‘water positive’ by 2030, returning more water to communities than it uses.
AWS’s recycled water program has been praised for easing pressure on local water systems amid growing AI infrastructure demands.
Amazon Web Services is significantly expanding its use of recycled water, planning to cool over 120 of its U.S. data centers with this method by 2030. The initiative should conserve upwards of 530 million gallons of fresh drinking water annually, addressing the growing resource needs of its vast infrastructure.
Cooling the cloud, cleanly: As AI technologies supercharge demand on data centers, AWS is turning to treated effluent—water not needing to be potable—to lessen the strain on fresh water supplies. This program builds upon existing recycled water operations in Virginia and California, with further work targeting more sites in Virginia, alongside facilities in Georgia and Mississippi.
Efficiency on tap: AWS highlighted its pioneering work in Virginia, where it was the state’s first data center operator to gain approval for using reclaimed water with its direct evaporative cooling technology. Amazon states this approach can slash water consumption by as much as 85% compared to traditional cooling methods. The U.S. initiative is a core component of Amazon’s broader goal to be ‘water positive’ by 2030, a commitment to return more water to communities and natural environments than its direct operations utilize; by 2024, the company reported it was 53% of the way to this global target.
Industry nods: The move drew praise from environmental groups. Howard Carter, president of the Water Environment Federation, commented that “AWS’ new initiative will support communities by easing pressure on local water systems while meeting the needs of the rapidly growing AI economy,” adding that the commitment “exemplifies how the private sector can work with communities to build a more resilient water future.”
The Bottom Line: With data centers now indispensable infrastructure, Amazon’s scaled-up water recycling program marks a substantial corporate effort to lessen the environmental toll of cloud computing and AI growth. Beyond its U.S. data centers, AWS uses AI to innovate data center design for energy efficiency and explores smart metering to curb water waste across its wide-ranging logistics network. These efforts emerge as discussion mounts about the overall environmental footprint of the fast-paced AI industry.
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