9 bn litres! That's how much water Amazon used last year

In a striking report, Amazon Inc disclosed that its data centers consumed approximately 2.5 billion gallons (around 9.46 billion liters) of water in the past year. This figure underscores the extensive resources needed to support the infrastructure of today's digital world. Despite the immense water consumption, Amazon asserts that it is becoming more efficient in its usage compared to its industry peers. The company reported a 2% reduction in water use compared to 2024, illustrating its commitment to improving efficiency while managing a vast data center footprint. In a recent blog post, Amazon detailed the relationship between water consumption and electricity usage within its data centers. The company noted that for every kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed, only 0.12 liters of water were used in 2025. This efficiency rate surpasses those reported by competitors like Microsoft, Google, and Meta. Interestingly, Amazon does not rely on water for cooling its servers. Instead, the company utilizes a method known as free air cooling, where outside air is drawn in to cool the servers, effectively eliminating the need for water-based cooling systems. This process allows the warm air generated by the servers to be expelled back into the environment, making it both environmentally friendly and resource-efficient. Joern Tinnemeyer, a leader in data center engineering at Amazon, likened this cooling method to a practical household analogy. He explained, "It's a nice summer morning. It’s not that hot out. I'm gonna open up my windows rather than turn the air conditioner on, and just let the breeze pull through." Looking ahead, Amazon has set an ambitious goal of achieving water positivity by 2030, claiming that it is already about 75% on its way to reaching this target. The concerns regarding water usage in tech companies are not limited to Amazon; the entire industry faces increasing scrutiny from governments, communities, and activists who are advocating for greater transparency and accountability regarding resource consumption.