Google says it is expanding its efforts to manage water use at data centers, unveiling new commitments aimed at reducing local strain while supporting watershed health and utility infrastructure.
The company said its growing data center footprint makes water management a central part of how it builds and operates digital infrastructure. Data centers use water in cooling systems that help control heat generated by servers and chips. Google said it is focusing on limiting local impacts as it expands to support services such as Search, Maps, banking, healthcare and emergency systems.
At the center of the new policy is a pledge to replenish more water than Google consumes at its sites by 2030. The company said it already replenished more than 7 billion gallons of water in 2025 through water stewardship projects. It also said it now has 165 projects across 97 watersheds, and expects those efforts to replenish more than 19 billion gallons annually by 2030 once fully implemented.
Google said many of those projects are designed not only to add water back into local systems, but also to improve water quality and broader watershed conditions. It described the target as part of a broader effort to ensure that growth in its data center business does not come at the expense of nearby communities.
The company also said it has committed more than $500 million so far to water, wastewater and water reuse infrastructure, along with funding for utility partners in the communities where it operates or builds data centers. Google pointed to efforts such as improving local water supplies and helping detect leaks in pipes.
Google said it will continue to work with local agencies and utilities to decide when water cooling is appropriate for new sites. If a watershed is judged to be at high risk, the company said it will choose air cooling or recycled water instead. The company said it assesses watersheds using a data-driven framework before building new facilities.
Another commitment is to continue publishing annual water-use figures for its data centers. Google said it was the first major cloud provider to disclose those numbers and wants to keep doing so to maintain transparency with communities.
The company also said it is looking for alternatives to freshwater use, including reclaimed wastewater. It highlighted a data center campus in Douglas County, Georgia, where treated wastewater is reused for cooling.
Alongside the policy changes, Google announced $17 million in support for new projects in Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Texas.
The initiatives include wetland restoration, floodplain forest restoration, stormwater infrastructure, leak detection and support for community water access. In Iowa, one project will help farmers convert 5,000 acres into perennial hay and pasture systems. In Nebraska, Google is backing a leak detection program in Omaha. In Texas, the company is supporting community water sources, infrastructure and access.
Google said it is also reviewing more than 700 proposals submitted through a recent water replenishment request for information. Those proposals cover engineered efficiency measures, farm-level conservation practices and nature-based solutions.
The company said it will share more in the coming months as it works with partners on the next round of projects. It framed the new commitments as a way to support long-term watershed health while making its data center expansion more sustainable.