Brazil relies heavily on hydropower but faces growing conflicts over water usage. While Brazil has abundant water resources overall, they are poorly distributed and water is stressed in some large, populated areas. Recent reforms have established a new framework for integrated water and energy planning at the basin level to better account for multiple water uses. However, fully implementing this framework remains a challenge as the power sector must now share influence and work through new institutions. Improved coordination mechanisms are still needed to effectively resolve disputes over water allocation among competing uses like energy, agriculture, and municipal water supply.