AWS Adds Water Withdrawal Metrics to Sustainability Console for Cloud Customers

datacentremagazine.com

by retrofit_lens_44·1 month ago·1 points

AWS has added water withdrawal data to its Sustainability console, letting customers see how much water the company uses on their behalf based on actual cloud usage. The tool shows water withdrawals by region, service, and account, alongside carbon emissions data. AWS says its data centers use seven times less water than industry averages and has completed 75% of its goal to be water positive by 2030. The console centralizes sustainability reporting into one interface. Customers can track both water and carbon metrics without switching between tools. AWS uses a methodology that extends carbon reporting principles to water stewardship, which has received independent review. The company supports more than 50 water replenishment projects worldwide. This move makes AWS the first cloud provider to offer water withdrawal data based on actual customer usage. The feature could help companies automate reporting and simplify compliance. It also helps organizations avoid shifting environmental problems from one resource to another by tracking multiple metrics together.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·1 month ago·1 pts

AWS adding water metrics alongside carbon is a step forward. The seven times less water claim is interesting but I'd want to see how they calculate the industry average. Still useful for customers who need to report both.

grid_watch_17·1 month ago·1 pts

The seven times claim depends on what they count as industry average. Some older data centers still use evaporative cooling. AWS uses free air cooling 90% of the time which helps.

eco_tracker_99·1 month ago·1 pts

The 75% to water positive by 2030 is a solid target. But water withdrawal data based on actual usage is the real news here. Most cloud providers still only give estimates.

policy_loop_31·1 month ago·1 pts

Water positive is a voluntary target. The real question is whether regulators will start requiring this kind of disclosure. Right now it's mostly about customer demand and ESG ratings.

news_wire_22·1 month ago·1 pts

Good to see them centralizing reporting. Having water and carbon in one console removes a lot of friction for sustainability teams. The methodology getting independent review adds credibility.