Amazon has reported a significant milestone in its efforts to manage water usage in its data centres, with usage reaching 2.5 billion gallons in 2025. This figure represents a 2% decline compared to the previous year, despite the company continuing to expand its global operations. The majority of this water is used for cooling the servers that underpin Amazon’s extensive data centre network.
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According to the company, advancements in cooling efficiency and the strategic use of water-based cooling systems are key factors in this reduction. The emphasis is placed on utilising water only during peak temperature months, which helps to optimise water consumption further. As of November 2025, Amazon operated more than 900 data centres across over 50 countries, highlighting the scale of their operations.
The growing scrutiny regarding the water consumption of data centres has put pressure on companies like Amazon to provide clarity and transparency about their resources. This demand for accountability has been mirrored in various regions, particularly in the United States. For example, the city of The Dalles in Oregon has made headlines after committing to release reports on water usage by Google’s data centres, following a contentious legal battle.
In Utah, lawmakers recently enacted a pioneering law that obligates new data centre developments to disclose their annual water usage. This move is indicative of a broader trend aimed at increasing transparency and allowing communities to understand the implications of having such facilities in their vicinity. Iris Stewart-Frey, a professor of environmental science at Santa Clara University, emphasised the need for this transparency, stating, “then communities will actually know what they’re getting into and can evaluate the costs and benefits, because the situation is very different from locality to locality.”
Kerry Person, a vice president at Amazon Web Services responsible for data centre operations, has addressed concerns regarding the water consumption of the data centre industry. In an interview, he argued that the media portrayal of the industry’s impact on water resources often lacks nuance. “When you actually look at the data and look at the details, nothing could be further from the truth,” he asserted, emphasising the need to separate facts from sensationalised headlines.
A recent poll conducted by Reuters shed light on public opinion regarding data centre construction in the United States. It revealed that only one in three Americans supports such initiatives, while a mere 14% of those surveyed were comfortable with a data centre being established near their residences. This sentiment reflects the complexities local communities face in balancing technological advancements with environmental concerns.
As pressure mounts for transparency and responsible resource management, companies in the data centre sector are increasingly expected to provide detailed reports on their resource consumption. This is particularly relevant as climate change concerns intensify, prompting scrutiny over the ecological impacts of rapidly growing tech infrastructures.
As Amazon continues on its path of expansion and development, the company remains committed to reducing its environmental footprint, focusing particularly on sustainable practices in its water management strategies. The latest figures demonstrate progress in this arena, yet they also highlight the ongoing challenges the company faces in addressing public concerns and reinforcing community trust.
In conclusion, Amazon’s achievement in reducing water usage amid expansion initiatives is a notable development in the technology sector’s response to environmental sustainability. However, the conversation surrounding the ecological impact of data centres is far from over, with continued calls for transparency likely shaping the future of industry practices.