Google Invests $60M in US Water Stewardship Amid Data Center Growth

Google has committed $60 million to five new water stewardship projects across Arizona, Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Virginia. These investments form part of Google's wider effort to replenish more freshwater than it consumes at its sites by 2030.

The company now supports over 165 projects across 97 watersheds, with projects expected to replenish over 19 billion gallons annually by 2030. This commitment comes as the technology sector expands data center capacity to meet demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence, increasing scrutiny of its energy and water requirements.

The five new projects target specific watershed challenges in each state. In Arizona, Google is working with Trout Unlimited and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove and replace culverts, restoring natural streamflow and reconnecting habitat for Apache Trout. The company has also committed over $500 million to water, wastewater, and reuse infrastructure as part of its efforts to balance computing demand with local constraints around water, energy, and public infrastructure.

Google says high-risk watersheds will influence how new data centers are cooled, with the company planning to use air cooling or recycled water instead of freshwater-dependent systems where supplies face elevated risk. The company has also committed to continuing annual disclosure of data center water consumption.