Amazon.com Inc.

Amazon.com Inc. is a U.S.-based technology and e-commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The company operates online retail platforms, cloud computing services through Amazon Web Services, logistics networks, digital advertising, and other technology services. Because Amazon operates a large global network of data centers and fulfillment facilities, its direct water use is mainly tied to cooling and facility operations.

In 2022, AWS announced its water-positive commitment, and by 2024 it was 53% of the way toward that target. By 2025, progress reached 75%. The improvement came from lower water use effectiveness, recycled-water cooling, reclaimed-water agreements, and better monitoring of leaks and cooling needs. In 2024, AWS began using integrated liquid cooling components to manage AI workloads more efficiently at new data centers. The system helped direct evaporative cooling to meet generative AI demand without increasing water use per kWh. In 2025, Amazon also developed the In-Row Heat Exchanger, which captures heat from high-density AI hardware at the rack before it spreads. This reduces how often water-based cooling is needed. AWS improved from 0.25 L/kWh in 2021 to 0.15 L/kWh in 2024, then to 0.12 L/kWh in 2025. In other words, Amazon data centers became 52% more water-efficient compared with 2021. In 2025 alone, Amazon reduced cooling water use by 938 million liters globally.

Amazon's reclaimed-water initiative is significant because it alters the source of cooling water. AWS collaborates with local utilities and stakeholders to construct dedicated purple pipe systems that deliver treated municipal wastewater to data centers. As of 2024, AWS led major data-center operators in the number of sites utilizing reclaimed water for cooling. By 2025, the program encompassed 26 operational locations, with contracts established for more than 130 data centers. As of May 2026, Amazon reported activity in regions including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, California, Georgia, Mississippi, and Virginia.

Amazon's initiatives in India provide a local example. In 2024, the company operated onsite sewage treatment plants at 27 logistics sites to recycle greywater for toilet flushing and irrigation, resulting in an estimated annual savings of 279 million liters of water. By 2025, this program expanded to 28 buildings, with an estimated 298 million liters saved annually. Additionally, Amazon implemented rainwater harvesting systems in India, where onsite pits collected approximately 178 million liters of rainwater, facilitating groundwater recharge.

Amazon implemented rainwater harvesting initiatives beyond India. At fulfillment centers in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, roof-collected rainwater is used to supply restrooms and irrigate landscaped areas. These facilities are also equipped with water-conserving plumbing fixtures. While not highly publicized, this approach effectively reduces demand for treated freshwater in daily building operations.

Amazon expanded its water replenishment initiatives. By the end of 2024, the company had announced 23 global water replenishment projects, which were projected to return over 7 billion liters annually to communities upon completion. In 2024, these projects returned 4.3 billion liters. By the end of 2025, Amazon had invested in 45 replenishment projects worldwide. In 2025, these projects returned 9.4 billion liters of water to communities, with an anticipated annual replenishment of more than 18 billion liters once all projects are completed.

Amazon contributed to water access initiatives through its partnership with Water.org. In 2022, Amazon committed $10 million to support the launch of the Water.org Water & Climate Philanthropic Fund. By the end of 2024, WaterEquity had raised nearly $460 million and reached 7.1 million individuals. With Amazon's support, Water.org enabled 1 million people in India to gain access to safe water and sanitation in 2023 and 2024. These efforts extend beyond Amazon's direct operations.