Striving to Do the Right Thing

Amazon is taking important steps to help the environment by using reclaimed water to cool its artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. This means they are using water that is not safe for drinking anymore but can still be used for cooling. This effort is helping save precious drinking water for the communities around their facilities.

Why This Matters

The rise of generative AI is changing how much water and energy we use. AI needs a lot of electricity for computing and a lot of water to keep the machines cool. As the demand for AI grows, so does the need for these resources, which raises concerns about water shortages and environmental costs.

Amazon’s Solution

Amazon has launched a water recycling program to address these issues. This program started in some locations in California and Virginia. By 2030, they plan to expand it to 120 facilities in these states and also in Georgia and Mississippi. Their goal is to save more than 530 million gallons of drinking water. They want to become “water positive,” which means they will provide more fresh drinking water to the community than they take away.

Brandon Oyer, who leads energy and water efforts at Amazon Web Services, emphasized the importance of managing water wisely, saying, “Water is a very local resource, and it needs to be managed as such.” He also noted that they plan to invest in these communities for many years, and they want to ensure they are doing the right thing.

Looking Ahead

Besides recycling water, Amazon is exploring other ways to meet its water needs, such as capturing rainwater. While the new program does not fix all of the environmental issues that come with Amazon’s operations, it is a step in the right direction, especially as new technologies are developed.

In conclusion, Amazon’s initiative reflects their commitment to reducing their environmental impact and ensuring that communities have the water they need. By using reclaimed water and planning for the future, they say, “We want to do the right thing.”