“Uruguay's Water Crisis: Data Centres Blamed as Colonia Locals Go Months Without Tap Water” — what this page in the network covers. In Colonia, Uruguay, residents report going up to three months without a single drop of tap water, and they point to a surprising culprit: the data centres that have proliferated in the region. The South American country has aggressively courted tech giants, offering tax breaks and stable governance, but locals say the cost is being paid in water—a resource increasingly scarce after years of drought. One resident told the BBC, "Not a single drop has come through our taps for the last three months," underscoring the severity of the shortage.
Data centres require vast amounts of water for cooling, and in Colonia, their consumption has strained an already fragile supply. This tension highlights a growing global challenge: balancing digital infrastructure growth with essential human needs. The full version stays on the original page, which this listing opens directly.