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Amazon has announced that its operations in India have become water positive, meaning the company now replenishes more water to local communities than it consumes across its facilities, including data centres, offices and warehouses. The milestone was achieved this year, a year ahead of the company's target, through water conservation measures and community-focused replenishment projects. The announcement comes as global technology firms face increasing scrutiny over the environmental impact of data centres, particularly their water and energy consumption. The development is significant in India, where water stress remains a major concern and large-scale investments in data centres and artificial intelligence infrastructure continue to accelerate. Amazon has committed substantial investments in India, including major expansion plans through Amazon Web Services in Maharashtra.
Amazon said on June 19 that its operations in India had become water positive, achieving a target ahead of schedule as the company faces growing scrutiny over the environmental impact of expanding data centre infrastructure linked to artificial intelligence and cloud computing growth.
The company stated that it now returns more water to communities than it consumes across its Indian operations, which include data centres, corporate offices and fulfilment facilities. According to Amazon, the milestone was achieved a year earlier than originally planned through a combination of reduced water consumption at its facilities and investments in water replenishment initiatives.
The company said its water conservation strategy included watershed restoration projects and the promotion of efficient irrigation systems in communities where it operates. These measures helped offset operational water usage and contributed to the company's water-positive status in India.
The announcement comes at a time when major technology companies are facing increasing attention from shareholders, environmental groups and activists over the resource demands associated with data centres. Amazon, Microsoft and Google have all announced significant investments in cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure globally, prompting concerns over energy consumption, land use and water requirements.
Amazon reiterated that it has set a target of becoming water positive across its global data centre operations by 2030. The company also stated that its data centres in India do not use water-based cooling systems, a factor that differentiates them from some facilities operating in other markets.
Water availability remains a critical issue in India. The country accounts for approximately 18% of the world's population but has access to only around 4% of global freshwater resources. Seasonal shortages and water rationing are common in several regions, particularly during summer months.
This year, concerns over water availability have intensified following weak monsoon rainfall associated with a strong El Niño weather pattern. Among the states facing significant water stress are Karnataka and Maharashtra, both key destinations for technology and data centre investments. Bengaluru, Karnataka's capital, is one of India's largest technology hubs, while Mumbai remains the country's financial centre. Authorities in Mumbai stated in the past week that the city, with a population of around 13 million, had only about 40 days of water reserves remaining.
Amazon continues to expand its presence in India as part of its broader technology and infrastructure strategy. The company has committed investments exceeding USD 35 billion by 2030 to strengthen artificial intelligence capabilities and support export growth. Separately, Amazon Web Services is expected to invest approximately USD 8.2 billion in Maharashtra, according to information previously disclosed by India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Microsoft and Google have also announced substantial data centre investments across India over the past year, reflecting growing demand for digital infrastructure while increasing focus on sustainability and resource management.
Source - Reuters
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