Uruguayans Protest Google’s Plan to Use Their Water Amidst Severe Drought

Uruguay, a country battling its worst drought in 74 years, is in an uproar over Google’s plan to build a data center. This project could consume millions of liters of water daily, escalating the existing water crisis and drawing widespread criticism.

Source: NBC News/YouTube

In a situation so dire that the authorities have had to mix saltwater with the public drinking supplies, residents of Uruguay are protesting the government’s alleged preferential treatment of transnationals over its citizens. With much of the country’s water already consumed by large industries like soya, rice, and wood pulping, Google’s new plan is facing staunch opposition.

The tech giant intends to set up a data center in Canelones, southern Uruguay. This facility would use around 7.6 million liters of water daily to cool its servers, equating to the domestic daily consumption of 55,000 people. It is reported that this water would be drawn directly from the public drinking water system.

However, Google has stated that these plans are still in the exploratory phase and might be revised to a smaller-scale project. The company insists that it is committed to sustainability in all its operations, including the design and management of its data centers.

In an unprecedented move, the Uruguayan government is sourcing water from the Rio de la Plata estuary, a mixture of seawater and freshwater, to compensate for the severe shortage. This has resulted in a salty taste to the tap water, causing unrest among the citizens.

Despite the government’s emergency measures, such as lifting taxes on bottled water and promising free daily water supplies to vulnerable families, public anger is growing. With around half a million people unable to afford bottled water, the residents are rallying under the slogan, “This is not drought, it’s pillage,” demanding that water for human consumption be prioritized over profit.

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• How California, Arizona, and Other Western States Are Creating New Water Supply During Drought
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