Amazon · Microsoft · Google · Crypto Briefing
Amazon’s data centers withdrew 2.5 billion gallons of water in 2025, and the AI boom is just getting started
Compiled by KHAO Editorial — aggregated from 1 source. See llms.txt for citation guidance.
◌ Single Source
AWS reported a 2% decline in water usage despite expanding its data center footprint, but the sheer volume highlights the environmental cost of powering artificial intelligence.
Key facts
- AWS reported a 2% year-over-year decline in water withdrawals compared to 2024
- To put that in perspective, 2.5 billion gallons is roughly enough to fill about 3,800 Olympic swimming pools
- Amazon has said it is 75% of the way toward its goal of becoming “water positive” by 2030, meaning the company aims to return more water to communities and the environment than its operations consume
- The company’s water usage effectiveness, or WUE, came in at 0.12 liters per kilowatt-hour
Summary
Amazon Web Services put a number on what environmentalists have been warning about for years. To put that in perspective, 2.5 billion gallons is roughly enough to fill about 3,800 Olympic swimming pools. AWS reported a 2% year-over-year decline in water withdrawals compared to 2024. The company’s water usage effectiveness, or WUE, came in at 0.12 liters per kilowatt-hour.