Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are expanding their data center operations in water-stressed regions, raising concerns about the impact on local water resources. These data centers, crucial for data storage and AI model training, require significant water for cooling.
A SourceMaterial analysis identified 38 active data centers owned by these tech giants in areas already facing water shortages. While Microsoft and Google aim to replenish more water than they consume by 2030, questions remain about the overall sustainability of their water usage.
Amazon, the largest data center owner through Amazon Web Services (AWS), also aims to offset its water usage by 2030, focusing on water-stressed regions. Google often builds centers in dry areas and has seven active centers in water-deficit regions of the US, with plans for six more. In 2023, Google's data centers consumed 6.1 billion gallons of potable water, with the Council Bluffs, Iowa center using nearly 1 billion gallons alone.
Microsoft acknowledged in 2023 that 42% of the water for its centers comes from water-stressed areas. The company has committed to being water positive by 2030 through reducing water use intensity and replenishing water in stressed regions. They are investing in projects like wetland restoration and using innovative stormwater collection systems.
These companies are also exploring alternative cooling methods and using recycled water to reduce their reliance on freshwater resources. Amazon reports a water use effectiveness (WUE) of 0.18 liters of water per kilowatt-hour for its AWS data centers and is using reclaimed wastewater for cooling at 24 locations.