Amazon disclosed its data centers consumed 2.5 billion gallons of water in 2025, down 2% from 2024 despite expanding operations, as water use becomes a flashpoint in AI infrastructure debates.

What happened: Amazon reported for the first time that its global data centers used 2.5 billion gallons of water in 2025 at a rate of 0.12 liters per kilowatt-hour of electricity. The company says this represents a two percent drop from 2024 even as it expanded operations.

Why it matters: Water consumption and energy use have become central concerns in debates over new AI data center construction. Amazon's disclosure comes shortly after Seattle enacted a one-year data center moratorium that some of Amazon's own employees supported, suggesting the company faces mounting pressure to demonstrate responsible resource management.

What to watch: Amazon claims its data centers are seven times more water-efficient than the industry average, based on an adjusted figure from a peer-reviewed research paper. However, the company notes that about 90 percent of the time it uses air cooling and relies on evaporative water cooling only during the hottest hours of the hottest days—a constraint that may limit how much further efficiency gains are possible.