Amazon has disclosed that its global data centre network consumed 0.12 litres of water per kilowatt-hour (L/kWh) in 2025, a figure it says is more than seven times better than the industry average of 0.84 L/kWh. The announcement marks a 52% improvement in water use intensity since 2021 and comes as scrutiny of the digital sector's resource footprint intensifies worldwide.
Both figures measure withdrawal Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE), the total volume drawn from a water source rather than what is ultimately lost to evaporation, making the comparison methodologically consistent. The industry benchmark is derived from a consumption WUE of 0.56 L/kWh published in a peer-reviewed study in the journal Patterns (de Vries-Gao, 2025), converted to withdrawal by assuming three cycles of concentration in cooling tower operation, a figure within the typical two-to-four cycle range referenced by the US Department of Energy, though not a fixed standard.
The efficiency gains stem primarily from thermal management strategies that minimise reliance on evaporative cooling. Around 90% of operating hours, the company's facilities use ambient air circulation, with water-based cooling deployed only when outdoor temperatures surpass approximately 29°C. Engineers have progressively raised the thermal thresholds at which servers operate, extending the window during which air cooling alone is sufficient.
"We set an ambitious target that benefits our customers, iterate relentlessly, and validate with data," said Joern Tinnemeyer, a data centre engineering leader at Amazon, describing the process that achieved a 50% reduction in water consumption between two otherwise identical facilities on the same campus.
Beyond operational efficiency, Amazon is pursuing a water-positive commitment by 2030, a target it describes as being 75% complete. In 2025, the company withdrew approximately 2.5 billion gallons across its global portfolio, a 2% decrease from the previous year despite continued infrastructure growth. Over 50 water replenishment projects are under development, projected to restore more than 5.8 billion gallons annually to local watersheds once fully operational.
A further strand of the company's strategy involves the use of reclaimed water sourced from wastewater treatment facilities. Amazon reports operating 26 sites on 100% reclaimed water, with 130 additional sites under contract globally. In several markets, the company has supported the development of municipal reclaimed water infrastructure from the ground up, including in Mississippi, Hong Kong and Indonesia.
