Brazil faces mounting water stress from data‑center expansion and high distribution losses

Large investments in new data centers near Campinas, such as Microsoft’s planned R$ 14.7 billion spend and Ascenty’s R$ 30 billion AI complex, are driving demand for massive cooling water volumes, with a typical facility using up to 20 million litres per day. Experts warn that rapid growth outpaces water‑resource planning and could intensify the region’s long‑standing water scarcity.

A separate study by Instituto Trata Brasil shows that Brazil loses 39.5 % of treated water before it reaches households, equivalent to 4.8 million Olympic‑size pools a day. The highest loss rates—above 55 %—occur in Amazon Legal states such as Alagoas, Roraima, Pará, Maranhão, Acre and Sergipe, far exceeding the national average. Only Piauí meets the new regulatory target of 25 % losses by 2033. Reducing these inefficiencies is critical for both public health and the sustainability of water supplies.