Amazon announced on June 19 that its operations in India have become “water positive,” meaning the company now replenishes more water to communities than it consumes across its facilities, including data centres, warehouses, and corporate offices.
The announcement comes as major technology firms face increasing scrutiny over the environmental impact of rapidly expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure. Data centres, which support cloud computing and AI services, are often criticized for their high energy and water consumption.
According to Amazon, the company achieved its India water positive target one year ahead of schedule through a combination of water saving measures and community based conservation projects. These efforts include watershed restoration, rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge initiatives, and efficient irrigation programs.
A key point highlighted by the company is that its Indian data centres do not use water based cooling systems. This is particularly significant in India, where water scarcity is a growing concern. The country supports about 18% of the world’s population but has only around 4% of global freshwater resources.
The issue has become increasingly urgent as India experiences more frequent water shortages. Cities such as Bengaluru and Mumbai have faced recurring water stress, while several regions have struggled with drought conditions and weaker than normal monsoon rainfall.
Amazon has set a global goal of becoming water positive across all its data centre operations by 2030. At the same time, the company is significantly expanding its presence in India. It has pledged to invest more than $35 billion in the country by 2030, focusing on artificial intelligence capabilities, cloud infrastructure and exports.
Its cloud division Amazon Web Services (AWS) is also investing heavily in India. The company previously announced plans to invest approximately $8.2 billion in Maharashtra to expand cloud and data centre infrastructure.
Other technology giants, including Microsoft and Google have similarly announced large scale data centre investments in India increasing attention on how the sector manages water and energy use.
Why This Matters
The announcement reflects a broader challenge facing the AI industry:
• AI data centres require vast computing power and infrastructure.
• Water is often used for cooling servers in many facilities worldwide.
• Growing demand for AI services is increasing pressure on local water resources.
• Companies are facing demands from investors, environmental groups, and regulators to demonstrate sustainable resource management.
For India balancing digital growth with water security is becoming an increasingly important policy issue, especially as climate change, population growth and urbanization place additional stress on freshwater supplies.