Amazon data centers consumed 2.5 billion gallons of water in a single year. That volume is sufficient to fill roughly 3800 Olympic sized swimming pools.

The company operates more than 900 data centers across over 50 countries supporting services that include online shopping cloud storage and artificial intelligence applications.

Data centers house thousands of powerful servers that generate substantial heat. Many facilities rely on water based cooling systems to dissipate that heat and prevent equipment failures.

Amazon reported that its total data center water use decreased by 2 percent compared to the previous year despite ongoing global expansion. The company credited the reduction to improvements in cooling efficiency and stated that water based systems are employed only when necessary particularly during periods of high temperature.

The disclosure arrives amid growing demands from communities and lawmakers for greater transparency regarding data center water consumption. Usage levels vary significantly based on facility location climate cooling technology and electricity sources. In drought prone regions even relatively efficient centers can add pressure to local water supplies.

Utah recently enacted what is believed to be the first United States law requiring certain new data centers to publicly report their annual water use. In other areas residents have expressed concerns about declining water pressure rising utility bills and competition for scarce resources near expanding data center sites.

Amazon maintains that the industry water consumption figures are often overstated and that its latest data reflect a more balanced picture. Nevertheless public support stays limited. A recent national survey indicated that only one in three Americans approves of new data center construction while just 14 percent would accept one near their home.
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