Water and Efluents

Recognizing the strategic relevance of water for the entire production chain (upstream and mid/downstream), both in onshore and offshore operations, we work continuously to improve the management of water resources and effluents, aligned with our value of respect for life and the integrity of facilities. 

We seek to rationalize the use of water, ensure the necessary supply, conserve the resource and its availability in the areas of influence of our facilities. To this end, we adopt fewer intensive technologies, optimize their use, promote water reuse or recycling and evaluate alternative supply sources, always considering local availability and technical, economic and environmental viability.  

In effluent management, we prioritize the reduction of pollutants disposed of through segregation, treatment and adequate disposal, respecting the assimilation capacity of the receiving water bodies.  

In our 2050 Strategic Plan and 2026–2030 Business Plan, we reaffirm the “Water Positive” ESG (environmental, social and governance) driver in areas with water criticality where we operate. This involves reducing freshwater withdrawal and contributing to improving the local availability of the resource. We also reinforce our commitment1 to reduce our freshwater withdrawal by 40% by 2030, with 2021 as the base year, as shown in the chart below: 

We continuously assess our performance through three corporate indicators: Freshwater Withdrawal (ADC); Reused Water Volume (VAR) and Water Effluent Discharge Volume (EHD). The critical analyses of the ADC and VAR indicators are monitored by our senior management. The effectiveness of our actions is assessed in different technical and managerial forums, allowing adjustments in the following planning cycles. Our governance on the subject also has a thematic forum on water resources and effluents, composed of our specialists and linked to the Environment Commission, which in turn reports to the Board of Directors. 

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¹In this chart, the number presented for 2025 is considering the scope of the commitment, whose base year is 2021. The business segments that were not part of our portfolio in 2021 (Fertilizers and BioQAV) are not within such scope. The Freshwater Withdrawal indicator does not consider freshwater for cooling in open circuit (2.862 megaliters in 2025) and rainwater harvesting (2,339 megaliters in 2025).

We withdraw water from surface sources (rivers, lakes), underground sources (water table or artesian wells), receive water from third parties (public systems or companies), and generate produced water during oil and gas extraction. In 2025, we did not identify significant impacts on water sources resulting from direct water withdrawal. 

Before discharge, we carry out the necessary treatment to ensure that effluents meet the quality criteria required by environmental legislation. In 2025, we did not identify significant quantitative or qualitative impacts on water sources related to effluent discharge. 

Before starting new activities, we strictly comply with the environmental licensing process – municipal, state or federal – which requires detailed studies, such as the Environmental Impact Study/Environmental Impact Report (EIA/RIMA), which assesses social and environmental impacts throughout the lifecycle of projects and defines preventive, mitigating and compensatory measures during the installation, operation and decommissioning phases. All conditions established by environmental agencies are systematically monitored. 

In 2025, through the Petrobras Socioenvironmental Program, we supported 33 projects focused on the conservation and recovery of forests and natural areas that contributed to water preservation. The actions included reversing the degradation of springs, water sources and water courses, restoring riparian forests and managing river basins, in addition to initiatives aimed at strengthening resilience and adaptation capacity to water scarcity and extreme events.