Earlier this year, the e-commerce corporation Amazon secured approval to open two new data centers in Santiago, Chile. The $400 million venture is the company’s first foray into locating its data facilities in Latin America, a region known for its water scarcity issues. This move has sparked protests among residents who are concerned about the environmental impact of the expanding tech industry.
This week, Amazon announced a plan to invest in water conservation efforts along the Maipo River, the primary water source for the Santiago region. The company will collaborate with a water technology startup to help farmers install drip irrigation systems on 165 acres of farmland, with the goal of conserving enough water to supply around 300 homes per year.
Amazon aims to make its cloud computing operations “water positive” by 2030, meaning it will conserve or replenish more water than it uses. This initiative comes as the company plans to invest $100 billion in building more data centers over the next decade to support its Amazon Web Services platform.
While Amazon claims that its data centers are among the most water-efficient in the industry, experts caution that conservation efforts must extend beyond the facilities themselves. The cooling systems used in data centers require significant amounts of water, and the energy-intensive power plants that supply electricity to these centers also have considerable water needs.
In an effort to reduce energy costs, Amazon uses water for cooling in its data centers. The company emphasizes the efficiency benefits of this approach, but acknowledges the need for a larger commitment to mitigating its impact on electricity grids. The use of water for cooling helps Amazon meet sustainability goals and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Amazon’s water usage is lower than some competitors due to its use of evaporative cooling systems, which require less water than other technologies. However, the company continues to expand its data center operations, raising concerns about water availability in certain regions.
To offset its water consumption, Amazon funds conservation and recharge projects around the world. These projects help restore rivers, provide recycled water for irrigation, and support water-stressed communities. The company treats these initiatives as it would carbon offsets, counting each gallon of water conserved or recharged against its total water consumption.
While Amazon is making progress towards its goal of being “water positive,” critics point out that the company’s water stewardship efforts do not account for the water consumed by the power plants that supply its data centers. This secondary water usage can be substantial and must be addressed through the adoption of renewable energy sources.
