Amazon has committed to investing $20 million in water conservation projects aimed at safeguarding the Colorado River, a vital water source for 40 million residents across the Western United States. This initiative is part of a larger ambition, shared with other corporations, to gather $100 million over the next two years to support similar conservation efforts. The move aligns with Amazon’s goal of becoming “water positive” by returning more water than it consumes by the end of the decade.
Water Usage Scrutiny as Drought Intensifies
The increasing scrutiny on tech companies like Amazon regarding their data centers’ water consumption is timely, given the severe drought impacting the 1,400-mile Colorado River. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has described the drought conditions, persisting for 26 years, as “unprecedented.” Overuse and climate change have exacerbated water shortages, prompting the U.S. Department of the Interior to impose significant water reductions for Arizona, Nevada, and California as of August.
Amazon’s Water Use Transparency
Amazon’s efforts to address its water use have been partially transparent. It revealed that its data centers used 2.5 billion gallons of water globally in 2025, although it has not disclosed total water consumption figures. The company claims its data centers are significantly more water-efficient than average, using 0.12 litres per kilowatt-hour of electricity, seven times better than the industry standard. However, these figures have been criticised for excluding water consumed in electricity generation, which comprises a significant portion of the overall water footprint.
Corporate Conservation Efforts Unite
The Colorado River Basin Collaborative, introduced by Amazon, seeks to establish one of the largest corporate water conservation initiatives for a single U.S. watershed. This collaborative will allow other companies to independently enter into conservation projects that have met vetting criteria set by the United Nations-backed Water Resilience Coalition. Amazon, a member of this coalition, joins other corporates like Microsoft and Meta in seeking sustainable water use solutions.
Challenges with Data Centers and Water Use
The water demands of expanding data centers, particularly those involved in AI, are significant, with estimates projecting usage to reach as high as 764.6 billion litres of water by 2025. Residents in Arizona, already affected by Colorado River water cuts and rising utility rates, express concerns about the implications of burgeoning data center projects.
In California, where Amazon operates a substantial number of warehouses, the company has committed $2.2 million over three years in Orange County to initiatives that aim to conserve 189 million gallons of water annually by addressing leaks.
Environmental Observations and Corporate Accountability
Experts urge a comprehensive approach to sustainability, cautioning against relying solely on efficiency metrics that may obscure total resource consumption due to phenomena like Jevons paradox. While Amazon’s sustainability reports disclose water use per unit of power, they omit the broader consumption picture that would include secondary water usage, such as that needed for electricity generation.
Kara Hurst, Amazon’s chief sustainability officer, draws parallels between the new water conservation efforts and the company’s existing climate change strategies, highlighting the interconnectedness of water and climate challenges. Yet, as the tech industry’s carbon footprint continues to expand, partly due to advancements in AI, complete transparency remains crucial for accurately assessing environmental impact.
Reporting based on coverage first published by theverge.com.