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Events / Business / Amazon.com Discloses Data Center Water Use
Business water usage disclosure

Amazon.com Discloses Data Center Water Use

Analysis based on 8 articles · First reported Jun 11, 2026 · Last updated Jun 11, 2026

Sentiment
20
Attention
4
Articles
8
Market Impact
General
Live prominence charts, article sentiment distribution, and event development timeline available on the Ergen Dashboard
Market Impact

The disclosure by Amazon (company) of its data center water usage, and its claims of efficiency, could positively impact investor sentiment towards the company's environmental sustainability efforts. Increased transparency and regulatory actions from entities like United States — Utah and United States — Seattle may lead to greater scrutiny and potentially higher operational costs for data center operators across the technology and cloud computing industries.

Technology Cloud Computing Environmental Services
Event Summary

Amazon (company) Inc. has for the first time disclosed that its global data centers used 2.5 billion gallons of water in 2025, a figure it presents as a testament to its water efficiency compared to industry peers like Microsoft and Alphabet Inc.'s Google. This announcement comes amidst growing public and regulatory scrutiny over the environmental impact of data centers, with cities like United States — Seattle implementing moratoriums on new construction and states like United States — Utah passing water transparency laws. Amazon (company) claims its facilities are seven times more water-efficient than the industry average and highlights its use of reclaimed water and air cooling for the majority of its operations. The company has also set a goal to be 'water positive' by 2030, aiming to return more water to the environment than it withdraws. Critics, however, question the comparability of Amazon (company)'s data with others, noting that Google's cited efficiency rates are specific to its Gemini AI data centers, while Amazon (company)'s figures encompass all its operations and exclude indirect water usage from electricity generation.

Entities Involved
stock
Amazon (company)
Amazon (company) disclosed its water usage for data centers, aiming to demonstrate efficiency and address public scrutiny regarding environmental impact. This disclosure is part of its strategy to manage public perception and regulatory pressure.
Importance 100.0 Sentiment 30.0
per
John Kerry
John Kerry, an Amazon_Web_Services vice president, defended Amazon (company)'s water usage data, asserting that the company's efficiency claims are accurate and that the industry's water consumption is often exaggerated.
Importance 70.0 Sentiment 0.0
stock
Alphabet Inc.
Alphabet Inc.'s Google data centers' water usage has been a subject of legal battles and transparency efforts, setting a precedent for disclosures that Amazon (company) is now following. Google is also mentioned for its water efficiency rates, which are compared to Amazon (company)'s.
Importance 60.0 Sentiment 10.0
loc
United States — Seattle
United States — Seattle, Amazon (company)'s home base, has considered or implemented moratoriums on new server farm construction due to concerns about water and electricity usage, influencing Amazon (company)'s decision to disclose its water consumption data.
Importance 50.0 Sentiment 0.0
stock
Microsoft
Microsoft's water usage effectiveness is cited for comparison, indicating that Amazon (company) claims to be more efficient in water consumption for its data centers.
Importance 40.0 Sentiment 10.0
stock
Meta Platforms
Meta Platforms is one of the few large cloud companies that provides water usage data for individual facilities, serving as a benchmark for transparency in the industry.
Importance 40.0 Sentiment 10.0
loc
United States — The Dalles, Oregon
United States — The Dalles, Oregon agreed to release records of municipal water used by Google's data centers after a legal battle, contributing to the broader push for data center water transparency.
Importance 30.0 Sentiment 0.0
loc
United States — Oregon
United States — Oregon was the site of a legal battle that led to the disclosure of Google's data center water usage in United States — The Dalles, Oregon, highlighting the growing demand for transparency.
Importance 30.0 Sentiment 0.0
loc
United States — Utah
United States — Utah passed a data center water transparency law, requiring new developments to disclose annual water withdrawals, which is a significant regulatory development in this event.
Importance 30.0 Sentiment 0.0
per
Iris Stewart-Frey
Iris Stewart-Frey, a professor and author of a report on California's data center water usage, advocates for more transparency in water usage data to help communities evaluate costs and benefits.
Importance 20.0 Sentiment 0.0
loc
United States — Phoenix, Arizona
The Phoenix area is mentioned as a region where Amazon (company)'s data centers use air-cooled chillers instead of outside water sources due to water scarcity.
Importance 10.0 Sentiment 0.0
cnt
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is mentioned as a region where Amazon (company)'s data centers use air-cooled chillers due to water scarcity.
Importance 10.0 Sentiment 0.0
Relationships
Amazon (company) competitor ↔ Alphabet Inc. Amazon is a primary rival to Alphabet, fiercely competing for market share in cloud services through AWS, as well as in
Amazon (company) competitor ↔ Microsoft Amazon is a major competitor to Microsoft, particularly in the cloud computing sector where its AWS platform directly ri
Amazon (company) related ↔ Meta Platforms
Alphabet Inc. competitor ↔ Microsoft Alphabet Inc. competes directly with Microsoft across major technology markets, most notably in cloud computing and arti
Alphabet Inc. competitor ↔ Meta Platforms Alphabet is a primary competitor to Meta in the digital advertising and artificial intelligence markets, while also acti
Microsoft competitor ↔ Meta Platforms Microsoft is a direct competitor to Meta Platforms within the technology industry, with both companies heavily investing
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