A leaked internal document indicates that Amazon has adopted strategies to manage public perception regarding the water consumption of its data centers. As the largest owner of data centers globally, Amazon plans to expand its capacity significantly to support its advancements in artificial intelligence. The company operates numerous facilities and is developing more amid growing concerns about the water used for cooling its extensive technological infrastructure.
While Amazon has stated that it focuses on efficient water usage and has launched a “Water Positive” campaign with a goal to return more water than it consumes by 2030, it faces criticism for a lack of transparency in reporting water use. In contrast, both Microsoft and Google regularly disclose their water consumption figures. Amazon has not made its total water usage public, and the leaked memo suggests that the company intentionally underreported water use to mitigate potential reputational damage.
In 2021, Amazon’s total water consumption reached 105 billion gallons, comparable to that used by nearly one million U.S. households. Although an Amazon spokesperson described the leaked document as outdated and inaccurate, she refrained from specifying details regarding its obsolescence. The memo was drafted shortly before the public launch of Amazon Web Services’ sustainability initiative, where executives discussed the potential negative impact of disclosing comprehensive water usage data.
Scientists have expressed concerns with Amazon’s selective reporting methods, stating that including both direct and indirect water usage is standard practice in environmental science. According to the document, the company decided to keep its secondary water consumption confidential, fearing that revealing such information could lead to negative publicity.
As Amazon continues to pursue growth in its data center operations, particularly in arid regions, questions remain about its water consumption practices and transparency in reporting.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/oct/25/amazon-datacentres-water-use-disclosure