Google announced it will replenish more water than its data centers consume by 2030, expanding its water stewardship program to 165 projects across 97 watersheds. The company expects these initiatives to restore 19 billion gallons annually, more than double its projected 2024 usage. Data centers in the US use roughly one percent of the water Americans apply to lawns each year.

A typical mid-size data center consumes about 300,000 gallons daily—equivalent to 1,000 US households. Google's facilities support Search, YouTube, Drive, Gmail, and growing AI services. Communities near these sites have raised concerns about water strain, as highlighted by activist Erin Brockovich's crowdsourced mapping of AI data centers.

To achieve its water-positive goal, Google is investing $17 million in Georgia wetlands restoration and Iowa farming projects converting 5,000 acres to perennial systems. Additional projects span Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Texas. The company also committed $500 million to upgrade public water and wastewater infrastructure.

Google will switch to air cooling when water sources face high risk and pursue reclaimed water solutions. Facilities in Texas already implement advanced air-cooling technology. This move addresses mounting public scrutiny over AI's environmental impact while positioning Google as a leader in sustainable data center operations.