Amazon Reduces Data Center Water Usage: Just 0.075% of U.S. Garden Watering
Photo: Tom's Hardware
Quick answer
Amazon has reduced its data center water consumption to 2.5 billion gallons annually, equivalent to 0.075% of the water used for garden irrigation in the U.S.
Amazon has published a report on its data centers' water consumption, emphasizing that their share of total U.S. water usage is minimal. According to the company, its facilities consume 2.5 billion gallons of water annually—just 0.075% of the volume Americans use for garden and lawn irrigation. For comparison, approximately 3.3 trillion gallons of water are used for these purposes each year.
Despite these modest figures on a national scale, data center construction often faces resistance from local authorities and residents. Concerns arise over the potential depletion of regional water resources. For instance, a Meta* data center in Georgia caused water turbidity in wells, while another facility consumed 29 million gallons in 15 months, leading to reduced water pressure in the local supply.
Amazon is actively implementing technologies to reduce water consumption. The primary cooling method is air-based, but evaporative cooling is used during high temperatures: water is sprayed onto a porous material through which hot air passes, lowering temperatures by 5–10 degrees and reducing energy consumption by 20–25%. Additionally, the company has raised permissible server temperature thresholds, cutting water usage by 50%.
By 2030, Amazon aims to become 'water positive,' returning more water to ecosystems than it consumes. This is a critical step given the rising demand for computational power for AI and other technologies. However, trust in such initiatives depends on transparency and their real impact on local communities.
* Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other Meta services are owned by Meta Platforms Inc., whose activities are recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation.
Common questions
- Why does data center water consumption face criticism?
- Data centers consume substantial volumes of water for cooling equipment, straining local resources, particularly in water-scarce regions. This often triggers community protests and complicates permitting for new facilities.
- What technologies is Amazon using to reduce water consumption?
- Amazon employs air cooling and switches to evaporative cooling only during high temperatures. The company has also raised server temperature thresholds, reducing water usage by 50%.
- What does the 'water positive' goal by 2030 mean?
- 'Water positivity' means returning more water to ecosystems than is consumed. Amazon plans to achieve this through innovative technologies and resource optimization.
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