Alphabet Inc.

Alphabet Inc. is a U.S.-based technology company headquartered in Mountain View, California. Through its subsidiary Google, the company operates Search, YouTube, Google Cloud, Workspace, Android, and artificial intelligence products that are used globally. Due to the extensive operation of data centers and offices, water usage is a significant factor in daily operations as well as in sustainability initiatives. The company's water footprint is therefore a critical consideration.

In 2024, Google reported using approximately 8.1 billion gallons of water across its data centers, with 72% of freshwater withdrawals sourced from low-risk water areas. During the same period, total water consumption increased by 28% compared to 2023, underscoring the importance of the company's focus on measurement and design strategies. Instead of minimizing the significance of this increase, the company's report addresses it by highlighting an enhanced water stewardship response.

A key practice is Google's data center water risk framework, which assesses local water scarcity and depletion risks prior to site construction or expansion. For example, at Waltham Cross in the United Kingdom, application of this framework led to the selection of air cooling due to elevated local water scarcity and depletion risks. The new hardware office in Taiwan incorporates water infrastructure innovations such as a stormwater capture system, water-efficient fixtures, and the use of non-potable water for toilet flushing. This framework is also being implemented at sites in Mesa, Arizona and Canelones, Uruguay.

The California Central Valley initiative is notable for integrating water stewardship with food systems and landscape resilience. Google collaborated with the North Fork Mono Tribe, the Sierra National Forest, and Trout Unlimited to restore eight degraded wet meadows in the San Joaquin watershed. Additionally, feasibility studies were conducted on four tributary watersheds in partnership with Sustainable Conservation. This approach combines ecological restoration, groundwater recharge, and agricultural resilience within a single region.

In 2024, Google's water stewardship projects replenished approximately 4.6 billion gallons of water, representing about 64% of its annual freshwater consumption. The company initiated 38 new projects, resulting in a total of 112 projects across 68 watersheds. The scale of these efforts is significant, as is the diversity of the portfolio, which includes projects focused on water supply reliability (42), aquatic habitat restoration (24), land conservation and restoration (21), water quality (16), and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) (9).