Google has committed to replenish more water than it consumes at its data center sites by 2030.

As part of the commitment, the company pledged to modernize water and wastewater infrastructure, including the development of water, wastewater, and water reuse infrastructure, and to utility partners that deliver water in the communities where it operates.

Google also committed to protecting at-risk watersheds by deploying air-cooled solutions rather than water cooling, stating that it would consider water cooling only if local resources are healthy and resilient. Finally, the firm committed to pursuing alternative and reclaimed solutions to protect water resources, working with utility partners to identify freshwater alternatives for its data centers, such as reclaimed wastewater.

In addition to the broad commitments, the hyperscaler announced a $17 million investment to support new projects that advance its water stewardship ambitions across seven US states.

In Georgia, it announced a partnership with Ducks Unlimited to enhance wetlands at the Flint River Wildlife Management Area in Dooly County.

In Iowa, Google teamed up with the Great Outdoors Foundation and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to support farmers in Western Iowa in converting 5,000 acres into perennial hay and pasture systems, reducing fertilizer use, and improving water quality.

In Michigan, the company partnered with the Huron River Watershed Council to expand its green infrastructure program, which will see it use native plants to treat stormwater and mitigate flooding.

In Minnesota, Google signed an agreement with the Trust for Public Land to restore 84 acres of floodplain forest, establishing a one-mile corridor along the Zumbro River to improve water quality.

In Missouri, it teamed up with Bridging the Gap and the Heartland Conservation Alliance to restore 98 acres adjacent to the Blue River as a wetland.

In Nebraska, it agreed to support the Metropolitan Utilities District’s water line leak detection program in Omaha to help reduce water loss and improve system efficiency.

Finally, in Texas, Google partnered with the Texas Water Impact Fund to support community water sources, infrastructure, and access across the state.

In addition to these projects, Google also announced that it is valuating more than 700 projects submitted through the recent Water Replenishment Projects Request for Information (RFI). Projects to apply for via the RFI include engineered solutions to improve water efficiency, supply, or quality; farm-level practices to reduce agricultural water demand and improve soil health; and nature-based solutions to improve the hydrologic cycle.

The announcements build on a range of other water stewardship and replenishment projects undertaken by the hyperscaler. According to Google, it has 165 water stewardship projects across 97 watersheds globally.

The commitment comes as concerns of water sustainability permeate the sector, due to the rapid build-out of AI data centers, which are expected to require more water than standard facilities for their cooling. Most of the other major hyperscalers have made similar water sustainability commitments, including Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft.