AWS is naming this "water+", and states it has already begun work on this path. Further, as part of its commitment, it will report annually on its water usage effectiveness metric, or WUE. WUE is calculated quite easily by dividing annual water usage by the energy consumption of the computing equipment and is measured in litres per kilowatt hour, or L/kWh.

Additionally, AWS will report on new water reuse and recycling efforts, new activities to reduce water consumption in its facilities, and advancements in new and existing replenishment projects.

To get to water+ by 2030 AWS is driving four strategies: improving water efficiency, using sustainable water sources, returning water for community reuse, and supporting water replenishment projects.

The announcement also adds to Amazon's commitment of $US 10 million to Water.org to support the launch of the Water and Climate Fund, which will deliver climate-resilient water and sanitation solutions to 100 million people across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This donation will provide three billion litres of water each year to people in water-scarce areas, and will directly empower one million people with water access by 2025.

AWS Australia and New Zealand managing director Rianne van Veldhuizen said, “Water is one of our world’s most precious resources and AWS is committed to conserving and reusing water in our direct operations. I’m proud AWS is working with non-profit and public organisations to support water availability and improve water security for people and the environment. It’s still only day one of our water positive journey and we’ll continue to innovate and collaborate to drive new ways to continue leading on global water stewardship.”

A full overview of how AWS will meet water+ by 2030 is described here and Amazon explains it will return more water than it uses by 2030 here: