TECHNOLOGY · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
Amazon Commits $20 Million to Colorado River Conservation
WHY IT MATTERS
Amazon's commitment to Colorado River conservation highlights the growing concern over water usage in the tech industry, with the company's data centers contributing to the region's dwindling water supply.
What happened
Amazon has announced a $20 million initiative to support water conservation projects along the Colorado River, a vital water source for 40 million people in the Western US. The move comes as the company faces scrutiny over its data center water usage.
Amazon aims to become 'water positive' by the end of the decade, replenishing more water than it uses. However, the company has yet to provide a complete picture of its water usage, with recent disclosures leaving some information unknown.
The Colorado River Basin Collaborative will work to address this issue, but details on the company's current water use remain unclear.
DEVELOPING STORY
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PRIMARY SOURCES
Amazon wants to help the Colorado River, but we still don’t know how much water the company uses
The Verge · Justine Calma · Discovery only; Vox Media copyright terms apply