AWS Adds Water Withdrawal Tracking to Sustainability Console

AWS Integrates Water Metrics into Sustainability Console

Cloud computing customers can now monitor the volume of water used to support their workloads through the AWS Sustainability console. The update enables organizations to view annual water withdrawal data alongside existing carbon emissions metrics. By centralizing this information, AWS aims to simplify the reporting process for sustainability teams, who previously had to navigate multiple services to manage their environmental data. The console builds upon the existing AWS Customer Carbon Footprint Tool, aiming to remove the need for teams to navigate across multiple services to manage their sustainability reporting.

The system presents data using both location-based and market-based methodologies to ensure transparency and consistency with established carbon accounting standards. The data tracks the total volume of water withdrawn for data centre operations and is broken down annually by AWS Region, specific service, and individual AWS account. Users can access the reporting via both the AWS Sustainability console and a dedicated API, with any operational efficiency improvements automatically reflected as lower withdrawal volumes. The new tracking capability is available immediately at no additional charge across all AWS Regions where the sustainability service is supported.

Alexis Bateman and the Push for Transparency

AWS is now the first cloud provider to show customers exactly how much water we withdraw on their behalf, based on their actual cloud usage. Writing

Bateman further noted the reasoning behind the update: “Today, we’re adding that visibility to the AWS Sustainability console. We built it because you can’t improve what you can’t see and customers told us they wanted the same clarity on water that we provide on carbon. Now they can see both, in the same place.” She emphasized the necessity of these metrics, adding: Transparency isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’ anymore – it’s a prerequisite for building trust.

This withdrawal data is calculated using the AWS Customer Water Withdrawal Methodology, which the company states has been independently reviewed. It extends the same principles used for carbon reporting to water stewardship, helping companies to automate reporting and simplify compliance. Through the Sustainability console, AWS encourages organisations to identify opportunities to be more water-efficient by optimising cloud workloads, adopting water-smart building technologies, and supporting community.

Operational Strategy and Industry Context

As a global data centre and cloud computing company, Amazon Web Services (AWS) focuses on protecting and replenishing water resources in its operations. The company reports that its data centres are seven times more water efficient than the industry average and it has reached 75% of its goal to be water positive by 2030. In March 2026, the company released the AWS Sustainability console to give sustainability teams access to emissions data, which includes Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions data attributed to a company’s AWS usage.

In Bangladesh, where water stress is exacerbated by rapid urbanization, agricultural demand, and climate change, companies like BAT Bangladesh have prioritized responsible water management. Jorge Macedo, Head of Operations at BAT Bangladesh, who oversees the company’s manufacturing and supply chain functions, emphasized that water stewardship is not simply about regulatory compliance but is a strategic focus.

Macedo, who has more than two decades of experience working with BAT in Mexico, America, and Europe, noted that responsible water management is essential for both operational continuity and long-term economic sustainability. To improve water efficiency, BAT Bangladesh has invested in condensate recovery systems, sewage treatment plants, and effluent treatment plants. As a result, the company reported that total water withdrawn in 2025 was about 14.5% lower than in 2023. Currently, approximately 39% of operational water at their Savar and Kushtia facilities is recycled, exceeding original targets.

Sources: Sustainabilitymag, Observerbd.