Amazon Data Center to Use Millions of Gallons Daily
TL;DR: Amazon's expansion of data center operations across four Virginia counties, including Chesterfield, will require approximately 20 million gallons of water daily, raising environmental and resource sustainability questions.
Quick facts
- Who: Amazon Web Services (AWS) and four Virginia counties
- What: Data center water allocation and cooling operations expansion
- When: 2026, with facilities in operation and ongoing approvals
- Where: Chesterfield, Caroline, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties, Virginia
The story
Amazon Web Services has secured water allocations across four Virginia counties - Chesterfield, Caroline, Spotsylvania, and Stafford - that together total approximately 20 million gallons per day for data center cooling operations. This expansion represents part of a broader $35 billion investment in the region's data center infrastructure, positioning Virginia as a major hub for cloud computing resources in the United States.
Chesterfield County, specifically, has approved rezoning for two data center projects: one at 750 Watkins Centre Parkway (350 acres) and another at 4200 Mosely Road in Upper Magnolia Green West (979 acres). Both developments came with extensive water and wastewater proffers, including usage caps that require county utilities department approval for additional capacity. The county's total daily water capacity is currently 110 million gallons per day, placing these data center allocations within a significant portion of available resources.
The scale of Amazon's data center water use is substantial. In 2025, Amazon disclosed that its global data center operations consumed 2.5 billion gallons of water annually, a 2 percent decline from the previous year despite expanding operations. The company states it uses free air cooling approximately 90 percent of the time, with water-based cooling needed only during the hottest months, and reports efficiency of 0.12 liters per kilowatt-hour, which it claims is seven times better than the industry average. Amazon has committed to becoming water positive by 2030, returning more water to communities than it uses; in 2025, it returned 3 gallons for every 4 consumed.
Local concerns focus on both the volume of water withdrawn from regional sources and the quality of water returned to rivers and streams. Separate discharge permits in Louisa County have raised questions about testing for contaminants including PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in discharged water, with state and local officials still determining whether to require data center discharge water testing for chemical contamination.
Key players
- Amazon Web Services (AWS): Data center operator proposing multi-county expansion
- Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors: Local government approving rezoning for data center projects
- Chesterfield County Department of Utilities: Oversight of water capacity and allocation
- Virginia Department of Environmental Quality: State regulator for water discharge permits
Key dates
- 2025: Amazon discloses 2.5 billion gallons of global data center water use for the year
- January 2026: Chesterfield County implements new zoning restrictions making data center projects conditional use requiring case-by-case Board approval
- 2026-06-09: Public hearing held for Amazon data center water discharge permit into Sedges Creek (Louisa County)
- 2030: Amazon's target date for achieving water-positive operations globally
The case for
Data center operations provide significant economic development benefits to the region. AWS's $35 billion regional investment creates construction jobs, permanent employment, property tax revenue, and positions Virginia as a competitive hub for cloud infrastructure serving East Coast businesses and government agencies. The facilities use modern cooling technology, with water use declining year-over-year despite operational growth, and Amazon's efficiency metrics (7x industry average) demonstrate that concentrated water use can coexist with responsible resource management. The water allocations remain within county capacity, and Amazon's 2030 goal of returning more water than it consumes represents a commitment to net-positive water impact.
The case against
Data center water withdrawals stress regional water supplies during drought conditions and summer peaks when water demand is already highest. Twenty million gallons daily from four counties represents a material allocation of a finite natural resource, particularly concerning in areas like Louisa County where discharge into sensitive water bodies (Sedges Creek, Lake Anna) raises ecological risks. Unanswered questions remain about testing and accountability for water quality after discharge, with no state requirement yet for PFAS or other chemical contamination testing. The long-term sustainability of such concentrated water consumption as climate change increases demand and reduces availability is unproven, and the allocation may underestimate total Amazon water use if additional data center projects are approved. Communities downstream bear environmental risk while economic benefits concentrate among the largest beneficiaries.
Why it matters: Water is a finite resource, and committing 20 million gallons daily to a single company's operations has implications for residential availability, agricultural use, and ecosystem health across four counties. Residents should understand both the economic opportunity and the environmental trade-offs, and ensure that county utilities planning accounts for climate change, population growth, and competing water demands over the coming decade.
Places
- Chesterfield County
- Caroline County
- Spotsylvania County
- Stafford County
- Upper Magnolia Green West
- Watkins Centre Parkway
- Mosely Road
- Lake Anna
- Sedges Creek
- Louisa County
Development timeline
- 2025Amazon cancels Louisa County data center proposal: AWS withdraws $1 billion data center campus plan from Louisa County after community resistance focused on water concerns and environmental impact [[source]](https://virginiamercury.com/2025/07/28/amazon-pulls-louisa-county-data-center-proposal-after-strong-resistance/)
- 2025-06Chesterfield planning commission recommends denial: County planning commission initially recommends denial of 700-acre data center project; Board of Supervisors later approves rezoning [[source]](https://richmondbizsense.com/2025/06/20/planning-commission-recommends-denial-of-700-acre-data-center-project-in-chesterfield/)
- 2026-01Chesterfield tightens data center zoning: County implements new regulations making data center projects conditional use requiring Board approval case-by-case, rather than automatic approval [[source]](https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/proposed-data-center-appeal-denied-june-3-2026)
- 2026-06-09Louisa County discharge permit public hearing: Public hearing held for Amazon data center water discharge permit into Sedges Creek at Louisa County Middle School, raising questions about water quality testing requirements [[source]](https://virginiamercury.com/2026/06/01/whats-in-the-water-what-we-know-and-dont-know-about-data-center-water-discharge-in-virginia/)
Related links
- Virginia Mercury - What's in the water: data center water discharge in Virginia
- Chesterfield County Department of Utilities
- Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
- Data Center Dynamics - Chesterfield County rezoning approvals
Read the original at Virginia Mercury →
Sources
- Yahoo News - Four Va. counties will pump almost 20 million gallons of water a day to Amazon
- Virginia Mercury - What's in the water: data center water discharge in Virginia
- Amazon disclosure on global data center water use 2025
- Data Center Dynamics - Chesterfield County rezoning approvals
- Virginia Mercury - Amazon pulls Louisa County proposal after resistance
- Richmond BizSense - Chesterfield planning commission denies 700-acre data center
- WRIC ABC 8News - Chesterfield rezoning for data center development
- Potomac Local - Potomac River named most endangered citing data center growth