Amazon Web Services (AWS) has expanded the use of recycled water at more than 120 data centres across the United States in an effort to reduce the consumption of fresh drinking water. The initiative is expected to conserve over 530 million gallons of potable water annually, equivalent to roughly 800 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Recycled, or reclaimed, water is treated wastewater that can be reused for non-drinking purposes such as agriculture, landscaping, and industrial cooling. AWS data centres rely on cooling systems to maintain optimal operating temperatures. While most facilities use air-based cooling, those in warmer regions employ evaporative systems that use water to reduce heat. The company now collaborates with local utilities to source treated wastewater for these systems, cutting down on reliance on drinking water supplies.
Water scarcity remains a growing concern in many U.S. regions. AWS’s move to recycled water reflects a shift towards more sustainable infrastructure management, aiming to ease pressure on local freshwater resources.
The expansion forms part of AWS’s broader goal to become water positive by 2030—meaning it will return more water to communities than it consumes in its direct operations. According to the company, it had achieved 53% of this target by the end of 2024.
