The Cloud vs. Drought: Water Hog Data Centers Threaten Latin America

Introduction

• Issue: Droughts in Uruguay and Chile lead to criticism of data centers using excessive water.
• Concern: Governments prioritize tech companies over citizens' water needs.
• Future Projections: Anticipated increase in data centers globally by 2035, exacerbating water usage issues.

Impact of Data Centers

• Water Usage: Data centers use significant water for cooling servers.
  • Example: Google's and Microsoft's increasing water consumption by 20% and 34% respectively in 2022.
• Environmental Impact: Many centers don't track water usage, making impact assessments difficult.
• Future Demand: Predicted rise in data center water usage by 2030 to over 1.7 billion liters daily.

Regional Concerns

• Uruguay:
  • First capital to run out of potable water in recent drought.
  • Concerns over Google's planned data center in Canelones consuming millions of liters of potable water daily.
• Chile:
  • Severe water scarcity leading to protests against data center projects.
  • Local referendums influencing less water-intensive cooling solutions.

Data Colonialism

• Concept: Export of data centers to the Global South seen as exploitation.
• Criticism: Data centers provide few local jobs but demand high resources.
• Government Actions: Often prioritize corporate interests over public consultation and environmental considerations.

Junk Data

• Waste Management: A large portion of stored data is considered junk and unnecessary.
• Potential Regulation: Legislation could compel tech companies to manage water use and reduce waste data storage.

Community Opposition

• Activism: Strong opposition from local communities, especially in Latin America.
• Protests: Centered around water usage and environmental degradation.
• Long-term Effects: Minimal employment opportunities from data centers, with high ecological and social impact.

Conclusion

• Urgent Need: Addressing water and resource management is critical amid increasing global demand.
• Call for Action: Communities encouraged to engage early in data center planning discussions.

Visual Highlights

• Images depict data centers, protests, and banners emphasizing the public outcry over water usage.

Key Takeaway: The expansion of data centers in Latin America poses significant environmental challenges, primarily through excessive water use, prompting widespread community resistance and calls for more stringent regulations.