The recent decision to partially grant water and sewage services in Fernando de Noronha to private companies has raised concerns among local residents. The Companhia Pernambucana de Saneamento (Compesa) currently provides these services, and there are fears that this change could result in increased costs for the residents. The local population is particularly worried that the official demographic statistics, which suggest that there are fewer than 3,500 residents, do not accurately reflect the reality of the island's larger, transient population, suggesting that the costs and services may not be fairly allocated based on true community size.

Nino Lehnemann, the president of the Popular Assembly of Noronha (APN), has voiced these concerns, emphasizing that the official figures do not represent the actual number of people living on the island, particularly considering the significant number of temporary residents and workers on Fernando de Noronha. The discrepancy between the estimated population and the services provided could lead to underfunding and inadequate service provision, which would negatively impact the quality of life for those living on the island.

Furthermore, the Census of 2022 indicated that the population of Fernando de Noronha stands at 3,167, a figure even lower than that projected by the government. This misrepresentation poses serious implications for the residents, as they worry that their unique needs and challenges are not being taken into account in the allocation and pricing of essential services such as water and sewage, potentially leading to economic strain on local communities.