Amazon has outlined a range of water conservation initiatives in India as scrutiny grows over the environmental impact of expanding data centres. The company says it is investing in technologies that reduce the amount of water needed to cool servers, while supporting projects that replenish local water resources through rainwater harvesting, watershed restoration, and improved water infrastructure. These efforts come as demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence drives the rapid expansion of data centres, which require significant amounts of electricity and water to operate efficiently.
Amazon says its water stewardship strategy focuses on becoming “water positive” by returning more water to communities than its direct operations consume in areas facing water stress. The company is working with local organisations to restore wetlands, recharge groundwater, and improve access to clean water in several Indian states. While environmental groups welcome greater transparency and conservation efforts, they continue to urge data centre operators to disclose their water use, adopt more efficient cooling technologies, and ensure that growing digital infrastructure does not place additional pressure on regions already vulnerable to water shortages and climate change. More