Replies

I asked grok.ai if the data centers were re using water. The answer that came back was that some are re using water more and some were reusing water less. Judging by this answer you would want to limit data centers to just microsoft.

here’s grok’s answer.

Yes, the very latest data centers are increasingly designed to run on reusable or recycled water for cooling, often incorporating closed-loop systems, reclaimed wastewater, or non-potable sources to minimize freshwater consumption. This shift is driven by sustainability goals amid rising AI and cloud demands, with major operators like Google, Microsoft, and AWS leading the adoption. However, not all data centers are fully reliant on reusable water; usage varies by location, technology, and operator, with some still depending partially on potable sources. Many new facilities aim for “water-positive” operations, replenishing more water than they consume.
Percentage of Water Reused
Percentages refer to the share of water from reclaimed, recycled, or non-potable sources (versus potable freshwater). These are typically company-wide averages or site-specific, as global standardization is limited:

Google: In 2024, 22% of total data center water withdrawal (excluding seawater) was reclaimed wastewater or other non-potable sources. Across all data centers, non-potable and reclaimed water accounted for approximately 17.5% of withdrawals (1,730 million gallons out of 9,866 million gallons), though this may underrepresent due to incomplete location breakdowns.
Microsoft: Less than 1% of water used in data centers is currently recycled company-wide, but this is expanding. In specific facilities, reuse can reach 97% through recycling cooling water. New AI data centers use closed-loop liquid cooling, recycling 100% of cooling water with zero evaporation or municipal water needed for that purpose.
AWS (Amazon): Specific percentages aren’t disclosed globally, but in data centers designed for recycled water (24 as of 2023, expanding to 120 by 2030), cooling relies heavily or entirely on recycled sources, avoiding potable water. This will preserve over 530 million gallons of drinking water annually by 2030.

CompanyAverage Reuse/Recycled PercentageNotesGoogle22% (reclaimed/non-potable)Based on 2024 data; site-specific can be higher (e.g., nearly 100% reclaimed in some locations).Microsoft<1% overall; up to 97-100% in specific/new sitesClosed-loop systems in latest AI centers enable full recycling for cooling.AWSNot specified globally; ~100% in recycled-water sites24 sites use recycled water for cooling as of 2023; scaling to 120.
Examples

Google’s Douglas County, Georgia Data Center: Withdrew 444.1 million gallons in 2024, of which 436.7 million gallons (98%) was reclaimed wastewater, demonstrating near-total reliance on recycled sources for cooling.
Microsoft’s Quincy, Washington Data Center: Partners with the local municipality on the Quincy Water Reuse Utility, recycling cooling water to reduce potable water use by 97% and providing 1.5 million cubic meters annually for community drinking needs. New AI data centers globally use direct-to-chip liquid cooling in a closed loop, saving over 125,000 cubic meters per facility annually with 100% water recycling and no evaporative loss.
AWS’s Umatilla, Oregon Data Centers: Up to 96% of cooling water is provided to local farmers for crop irrigation at no charge, enabling reuse after data center operations. AWS is expanding recycled wastewater use across 120 U.S. sites by 2030, including in water-stressed areas, to cool facilities without tapping drinking supplies.