Amazon Web Services (AWS) is expanding its water replenishment programme across multiple continents, introducing new projects in China, Chile, the US, and Brazil, designed to significantly mitigate global water scarcity challenges.
In 2023, AWS’s water replenishment portfolio returned 3.5 billion litres to local communities across 15 water replenishment projects. With six new projects announced on Tuesday, a total of 21 projects will return over 7 billion litres of water each year once every project is complete.
In Chile, AWS is launching its inaugural project in collaboration with local farmers and the climate-tech company Kilimo. This project focused in the Maipo Basin—a vital water source for Santiago and Valparaiso—aims to convert 67 hectares of agricultural land from flood to more efficient drip irrigation, saving an estimated 200 million litres of water annually. Similarly, in Brazil, AWS and Kilimo are using Artificial Intelligence to optimise water usage for agriculture along the Tiete River, which serves Sao Paulo. This AI-driven initiative is expected to conserve another 200 million litres of water each year by providing precise irrigation recommendations to farmers.
Moving to Asia, AWS has launched its two inaugural projects in China aimed at enhancing water quality for the communities around Beijing. The first, at the Miyun Reservoir—Beijing’s primary water source—involves riverbank reconstruction and the installation of wetlands to treat polluted runoff, aiming to return nearly 39 million litres of clean water annually. The second project addresses untreated sewage in Xiankeng and Zuotan villages, enhancing water quality in the Dongjiang and Xijiang Rivers, respectively, with an annual replenishment target of over 40 million litres.
In the United States, AWS is partnering with The Nature Conservancy in Ohio to restore 11 acres of wetlands in Licking County. This initiative will enhance water quality in Buckeye Lake by filtering 77 million gallons of water annually and reducing nutrient pollution. Additionally, in California, AWS is working with River Partners to restore native ecosystems in critical river corridors, aiding in salmon conservation and other wildlife benefits, with an expected annual water benefit of more than 1.6 billion litres upon project completion in 2027.
Kara Hurst, Amazon’s chief sustainability officer, emphasised the strategic importance of these initiatives and said, “Amazon is committed to being a good water steward everywhere it operates. Doing our part to help address water scarcity is essential to overcoming health and economic risks for Amazon’s employees, customers, communities, and businesses. One of the ways AWS is innovating to help make a difference is by expanding its water replenishment programme to more places, which will return over 7 billion Liters of water each year once all of the projects are completed. We also know we can’t solve the water scarcity challenge alone, and are sharing our learnings with others to make an even bigger impact.”
AWS has also developed educational resources, including a white paper with Waterplan titled “Enhancing water stewardship through performance monitoring.” This guide helps corporations implement and monitor effective water stewardship strategies, ensuring sustainable and community-beneficial water projects.