Google has announced that it intends to replenish 20% more water than its offices and data centers consume by 2030.
The technology giant announced that it had consumed 3.4 billion gallons of water in 2019, and that it has not yet begun monitoring replenishment rates. Google added that its 20% target reflects the level needed to bring areas of high water scarcity back to healthy levels.
Google’s water use relies primarily on the use of water coolers in its data centers, but researchers have urged Google to move away from its water use amid the growing climate crisis.
Google has also stated that it wants to achieve its new goal by using less water in its buildings overall and supporting conservation efforts in neighbouring communities.
Google’s new measures include collecting rainwater for flushing toilets and funding the removal of water-hungry parasitic plants. In Southern California, the tech giant is also helping install toilet leak detection technology in low-income homes to reduce waste and maintain the water cycle through sanitation systems.
For more information, view the original story from Reuters.