Amazon has announced it achieved water positive status in India, returning more water to communities than it consumes across its direct operations, including corporate offices, fulfillment centers, and data centers. The milestone, reached ahead of the company's original 2027 target, comes as major technology firms face mounting scrutiny over the environmental impact of expanding data center infrastructure globally.
The company reported that its initiatives enabled it to return 120% of the water it used in its direct operations during 2025. Progress is measured by comparing the volume of water replenished through conservation and restoration projects against the volume withdrawn for operational use, with performance verified through regular internal and third-party audits.
Water Stewardship Strategy in a Water-Stressed Nation
Amazon highlighted India's water challenges, noting the country is home to 18% of the world's population but only 4% of global freshwater resources. The company's water stewardship strategy is built around three pillars: reducing water use, reusing water through treatment and harvesting systems, and replenishing water in communities facing water stress.
Amazon has committed more than ₹62 crore towards water stewardship initiatives across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Delhi NCR, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. These projects are expected to replenish more than 4 billion liters of water annually through watershed restoration, lake rejuvenation, groundwater recharge, efficient irrigation, and water quality improvement programs.
Among the projects is a Yamuna River watershed initiative in Delhi that is expected to replenish more than 400 million liters of water annually through groundwater recharge infrastructure and water quality improvement measures. The company is also supporting initiatives in Chennai's Adyar River watershed.
Operational Efficiency and Data Center Cooling
Amazon said its data centers in India do not use water for cooling. Water consumption across its other facilities, including fulfillment centers and offices, is primarily associated with employee needs such as drinking water, kitchens, and restrooms. To reduce usage, the company has implemented low-flow fixtures and smart water meters designed to monitor consumption, identify leaks, and improve operational efficiency.
The company also continues to expand wastewater recycling efforts. As of 2025, on-site sewage treatment plants at Amazon facilities recycle wastewater, providing an estimated 298 million liters annually for uses such as irrigation and toilet flushing. Additionally, rainwater harvesting systems across Amazon facilities collected approximately 178 million liters of water in 2025, helping replenish groundwater reserves.
AWS Global Water Goals and India Expansion
Amazon's cloud computing arm, Amazon Web Services, has set a separate global goal of becoming water positive by 2030. According to the company, AWS has already reached 75% of that target. In 2025, AWS returned three liters of water for every four liters it used in its direct data center operations.
In India, AWS has supported water replenishment initiatives through partnerships with organizations including WaterAid, Water.org, and SEARCH. These projects focus on improving water access, supporting groundwater recharge, and helping communities and farmers around Hyderabad, Mumbai, and other regions with water security challenges.
Globally, Amazon said it has announced more than 50 water replenishment projects that are expected to return over 24 billion liters of water annually through watershed restoration, improved water access and quality, leak reduction efforts, and measures aimed at addressing water scarcity.
The milestone comes as Amazon continues to expand its presence in India. The company has previously outlined plans to invest more than $35 billion in the country by 2030, including investments aimed at strengthening artificial intelligence capabilities, cloud infrastructure, and exports. This expansion has drawn increased attention to the resource demands of data centers, particularly as investments in AI accelerate. For context on the broader AI infrastructure buildout, see our coverage on Sterlite and HFCL surging as India's AI infrastructure suppliers defy outflows and Corning's jump on Amazon's multi-billion fiber optic deal for AI data centers.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
