Amazon data centers used 2.5 billion gallons of water last year
▼ Summary
– Amazon disclosed its data center water usage for the first time after Seattle enacted a one-year moratorium on new data centers.
– Amazon’s global data centers consumed 2.5 billion gallons of water in 2025, with a rate of 0.12 liters per kilowatt-hour.
– Water usage dropped by two percent from 2024, despite expansion of operations.
– The disclosure comes amid debates over water and energy consumption in new AI data center construction.
– Amazon claims it uses water more efficiently than some other major tech companies.
Just as Seattle imposed a one-year moratorium on new data centers , a move backed by some of Amazon’s own workforce , the tech giant has, for what is reportedly the first time, disclosed how much water its global data center operations consumed. Amazon revealed that its facilities used 2.5 billion gallons of water in 2025, with a consumption rate of 0.12 liters per kilowatt-hour of electricity. Despite expanding operations, that figure represents a two percent decline from 2024’s total.
The disclosure comes amid intensifying scrutiny over the water and energy demands of AI-driven data center expansion. Critics and local governments alike are raising alarms about the environmental toll of these massive facilities, especially in drought-prone regions.
Amazon further asserts that it is using water more efficiently than several of its Big Tech competitors, backing the claim with a graphic in its sustainability report that highlights comparative benchmarks. The company’s data centers, which power everything from cloud computing to artificial intelligence, are now under a brighter spotlight as communities and policymakers weigh the costs of digital infrastructure against local resource constraints.
(Source: The Verge)
