DATA CENTERS AND PRESSURE ON WATER RESOURCES

NORMATIVE LIMITS OF WATER GOVERNANCE IN THE AMAZONIAN CONTEXT

Abstract

This article analyzes the pressure exerted by data centers on water resources, focusing on the normative limits of water governance in the Amazonian context. It is based on the premise that digital infrastructure, although often associated with immateriality, depends heavily on physical structures that require high levels of electricity and water consumption, especially for cooling systems and the continuous operation of servers. The research problem consists of verifying whether the Brazilian legal system, particularly the National Water Resources Policy, provides sufficient instruments to regulate the impacts resulting from the expansion of such enterprises in environmentally sensitive regions such as the Amazon. A bibliographic and documentary methodology is adopted, with a qualitative approach and deductive method, based on the analysis of specialized literature, public data on water consumption, and recent administrative acts of the State of Amazonas related to the attraction of digital infrastructure. The study demonstrates that, despite the existence of relevant mechanisms such as water permits, environmental licensing, and water planning, regulatory gaps remain regarding the integration of innovation policies, environmental sustainability, and territorial planning. It concludes that the implementation of data centers in the Amazon region requires preventive governance, informational transparency, and institutional coordination.