Amazon Report Compares AI Data Center Water Usage to Broader Consumption
Amazon's recent report indicates that its data centers globally withdrew approximately 2.5 billion gallons of water in 2025. This figure is presented as relatively small when compared to vast national water withdrawals, such as the 117 trillion gallons recorded in the U.S. in 2015. Despite the low aggregate impact, individual data centers can significantly strain local water supplies. Other major technology companies, including Google, Microsoft, and Meta, also reported billions of gallons in water withdrawals from their data centers in 2024.
Amazon has released a report detailing the water consumption of its data centers, which are integral to AI operations. According to the company, its global data centers collectively withdrew about 2.5 billion gallons of water in 2025.
This quantity is contrasted with much larger national and sectoral water usage figures. For example, the total water withdrawn in the U.S. in 2015 was approximately 117 trillion gallons. Comparative figures also include an estimated 3.3 trillion gallons used annually for U.S. lawns and landscaping, 1.3 trillion gallons per year for California almond orchards, and 531 billion gallons annually for U.S. golf courses.
While the aggregate water use by data centers may appear minor in these broader contexts, individual facilities can still exert considerable pressure on local water resources.
Other significant technology companies have also reported their data center water usage. In 2024, Google's data centers withdrew more than 6.1 billion gallons of water, Microsoft reported approximately 2.75 billion gallons, and Meta recorded about 1.4 billion gallons for the same year.
(Source: Ars Technica)
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