Key Points
- Amazon’s data centers use 0.12 liters of water per kWh, 7x more efficient than the industry average of 0.84 L/kWh.
- Free air cooling and 85°F operating temps drive water savings, with reclaimed water used in 130 facilities.
- IT leaders must factor water efficiency into infrastructure decisions as regulations tighten and communities resist data center growth.
What is changing
Amazon says its data centers achieved a 52% improvement in water efficiency over five years by using free air cooling 90% of the time and raising operating temperatures to 85°F. This approach reduces water needs by avoiding traditional air conditioning and allowing servers to function in hotter conditions, according to the company. In 2025, it reported a Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) metric of 0.12 L/kWh, far below the industry average of 0.84 L/kWh.
The company also uses reclaimed wastewater in 130 data centers, returning 3 gallons to communities for every 4 used. Amazon claims it is 75% toward its goal of being “water positive” by 2030, though exact measurements vary based on definitions like whether power generation water is included.
Why it matters
This matters most to IT architects and CIOs designing infrastructure strategies, especially as water scarcity and regional regulations increasingly influence data center placement and operations. Professionals may notice growing pressure to justify resource usage, particularly for AI workloads, which require dense cooling and strain local utilities.
Amazon’s methods align with industry trends—like Microsoft’s closed-loop systems and Google’s reclaimed water focus—but experts say its scale and execution set it apart. Still, location and workload type remain critical factors. Share your thoughts on how water efficiency impacts your cloud provider choices in the comments.