This topic has been addressed through the development of a strategic portfolio of projects and initiatives aimed at enhancing watershed water security management. These efforts involve the conservation and restoration of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the implementation of alternative water supply solutions, and the promotion of equitable access to safe water and basic sanitation in the areas where the Company operates.

In 2024, an estimated potential benefit of 235 KBWPD in water security was identified. This was primarily derived from the conservation and restoration of six Ecopetrol-managed eco-reserves, the provision of treated water from the Lisama dehydration facility to the El Centro community in the municipality of Barrancabermeja, and the reuse of treated industrial wastewater for the irrigation of forest crops under the Agro-Energy Sustainability Area initiatives (ASA in Castilla and SAARA in Rubiales). These actions contribute significantly to advancing the Company’s water neutrality goal across 15 directly operated strategic assets, located within 11 hydrographic subzones.
 

Water Volume Contribution (CVA)

C&1%: Compensation actions for biotic environment impacts and the mandatory investment of no less than 1%.

Contribution to Natural Capital

In 2024, conservation actions were implemented across 290.397 hectares in 63 sub-watersheds nationwide. Of this total, 97% corresponded to voluntary projects, while 3% were related to mandatory compliance measures.

Out of the total area intervened, 93,4% (271,189 hectares) were managed through 1,915 conservation agreements signed with local communities—58% of which were voluntary projects and 42% linked to regulatory compliance obligations. Additionally, 1,2% (3.478 hectares) were either under active restoration or had been reforested; 0,1% (148 hectares) were placed under official conservation designations; and the remaining 5,3% (15.583 hectares) were incorporated into Ecopetrol’s Ecoreserve Network.

Furthermore, 786 hectares were rehabilitated using silvopastoral systems (64%) and agroforestry systems (36%). As part of compliance commitments, 160,8 kilometers of surface water bodies and 140 water springs were also protected.

Access to Water and Basic Sanitation

Ecopetrol has set a strategic goal for 2040 to improve access to safe drinking water for over one million people and to contribute to closing the national access gap by 2,1%. Through these investments, the Company aims to enhance living conditions in rural areas by reducing the incidence of gastrointestinal and skin-related diseases, while also implementing alternative water supply solutions and nature-based solutions (NbS) for the proper management of domestic wastewater.

Between 2019 and 2024, a total of 1.059.129 individuals have benefited from access to potable water and basic sanitation services, including 246,533 people during the last year alone. Notable achievements include the completion of Subprojects II and III of the Cúcuta Metropolitan Aqueduct, which improved water service continuity in the municipalities of Los Patios and Villa del Rosario (Norte de Santander). Additionally, the construction and optimization of the Potable Water Treatment Plants (PWTP) in the Alto Pompeya village in Villavicencio and in the municipality of Puerto López (Meta) were completed, along with the implementation of the “Water for Education, Education for Water” program in Puerto Wilches (Santander), and the construction and commissioning of the potable water supply system in the Manzana village, Mayapo district, in the municipality of Manaure (La Guajira). This last initiative has been recognized as an Energy Community by the Ministry of Mines and Energy for incorporating renewable energy sources into the water purification processes.

Furthermore, three (3) ongoing projects are expected to benefit more than 396.791 people. These include: the construction of the San Silvestre Wastewater Treatment Plant in Barrancabermeja, the optimization of the Potable Water Treatment Plant for the urban aqueduct system of Barrancabermeja (Santander), and the optimization of the Potable Water Treatment Plant in the municipality of Guamal (Meta).

Additionally, to strengthen the capacity of local authorities in the formulation and structuring of infrastructure projects, Ecopetrol completed three (3) studies and design packages in 2024 for future water supply systems that will benefit approximately 7.430 people starting in 2025. These projects include: i) construction of the aqueduct system for the villages of La Chava, Campo Gala, Pénjamo, and Rodeo in Barrancabermeja; ii) a new intake line for the Tibú Inter-village Aqueduct (Norte de Santander); and iii) a prefeasibility study for the aqueduct system in the village of La Esmeralda, municipality of Acacías (Meta).

Water Provision

“Harvesting Water – Harvesting Life: Climate Change Adaptation Strategies”

Ecopetrol, in partnership with Corporinoquia and in coordination with rural and educational communities, launched pilot projects such as “Eco-Environmental Schools” and “Water Harvesting” in the department of Casanare. These initiatives form part of broader strategies for rainwater harvesting, biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation. The “Eco-Environmental Schools” program engaged over 6.200 students and teachers across 20 educational institutions in environmental awareness and sustainability practices. Additionally, 20 livestock farming families participated in the establishment of rainwater storage reservoirs for agricultural use, resulting in a reduction of approximately 4.000 m³ in withdrawals from surface and groundwater sources during the dry season.

Water Reuse: ASA and SAARA Projects

Aligned with Ecopetrol’s sustainability strategy and responsible water resource management, the Company has developed and implemented innovative solutions for the reuse of treated produced water for agricultural irrigation purposes. Key initiatives include the Agro-Energy Sustainability Area (ASA) in the Castilla field, focused on the irrigation of forest plantations, and the Agricultural Water Reuse System (SAARA) in the Rubiales field.

These projects involve advanced treatment of water associated with extraction operations through desalination and physicochemical adjustment processes, ensuring compliance with technical standards required for safe and efficient agricultural use.

In 2024, a total of 4,1 million m³ of treated water was made available in Castilla and 0,5 million m³ in Rubiales, significantly contributing to regional water security. These actions help alleviate pressure on surface water sources by preventing the direct discharge of effluents and reducing raw water withdrawals for agroindustrial uses, thereby mitigating potential conflicts with other water users.

Furthermore, these initiatives support the creation of shared value in the regions through local job creation and the strengthening of community capacities in the efficient and sustainable management of water resources.

Water Provision

CEO Water Mandate

Since 2014, Ecopetrol has been publicly committed to sustainable water management through its endorsement of the CEO Water Mandate, an initiative led by the United Nations Global Compact. Currently, Ecopetrol’s water security initiatives are featured on the Water Action Hub, a global platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange on water sustainability and climate resilience.

“El Agua Nos Une” Program (Water Unites Us)

Since June 2023, Ecopetrol has been a member of the “El Agua Nos Une” (Water Unites Us) Program, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (COSUDE) and implemented by the Center for Science and Technology of Antioquia (CTA). The program aims to strengthen water governance for a more equitable society by leveraging the collective capacities of the public and private sectors, as well as civil society, to jointly lead a systemic transformation toward responsible production and consumption and the enhanced valuation of water as a strategic resource for society.
Within the framework of this program, Ecopetrol has advanced several key initiatives, including:

• Calculation and reporting of the water footprint for petrochemical products from the Barrancabermeja Refinery for the years 2019–2023.
• Participation in a specialized training course on water footprint assessment under ISO 14046 and corporate water stewardship.
• Engagement in the program led by Esenttia, as a downstream client of the refinery's petrochemical products.
• Contribution to the publication "Conceptual and Regulatory Analysis on Water Recirculation and Reuse in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru", specifically the Colombia chapter, featuring a success case on the reuse of treated produced water from the Castilla field for irrigation of agroforestry and ornamental crops in the now officially designated ASA La Guarupaya Eco-reserve.
  
  Línea base ambiental hidrológica y de calidad de agua del Valle Medio del Magdalena

This publication encourages continued analysis of the progress made in water recirculation and reuse, fostering reflections that promote Corporate Water Stewardship.
This approach has been implemented through the “Water Unites Us” program since 2010, with the aim of enhancing the assessment and reduction of water-related impacts across production processes, while managing water risks from within the corporate sphere.
This entails prioritizing evidence-based investments to improve water use efficiency, optimize raw material management, and strengthen effluent treatment practices. It also calls for the active participation of the private sector in collective water management efforts at the territorial level.
 

• Preparation of a Technical Brief for the National Water Study – Hydrocarbons Sector, providing a detailed analysis of water management practices in the oil and gas industry (publication in progress by IDEAM).
• Implementation of collective water management actions through the project: "Technological Strengthening of Recycling Associations in the District of Barrancabermeja (Santander) for the Optimization of Micro-Collection Routes and Waste Recovery Operations (as per Decree 596 of 2016)", under the broader “Recycling Together” program and aligned with municipal water footprint reduction strategies. In 2024, 13 community-based recycling organizations were engaged, enabling the collection of 1.8 tons of recoverable waste and benefiting approximately 2.000 residents.
   

Collective Action Mechanism

Based on the water security assessment of the municipalities of Villavicencio and Acacías in the Meta Department, and considering the feasibility of implementing a multisectoral collective action platform, a Promoter Group was established, comprising 13 public and private entities. These stakeholders committed to collaborative efforts to address water security challenges in the supply basins of both municipalities, grounded in a science-based strategy.
This joint effort has led to the development of several technical instruments designed to guide on-the-ground implementation, including:

• Portfolio of Priority Areas and Interventions: This outlines Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) that can enhance watershed water security, along with a prioritization framework for their implementation.
• ROI Analysis of Interventions: Evaluates the return on investment associated with executing the portfolio of water security interventions across prioritized areas.
• Strategic Plan: Serves as a roadmap for the operation of the Collective Action Mechanism, articulating the vision and mission for 2040, along with strategic objectives, intervention pathways, targets, and indicators for 2028 and 2033 (short- and mid-term horizons). The strategic lines of action include:
  • Conservation, rehabilitation, and restoration of ecological structures to ensure ecosystem service provision and enhance adaptation to climate variability and change.
  • Generation of relevant and timely hydroclimatic, social, and environmental data to support informed decision-making in integrated water management.
  • Integrated water resource management and governance, aimed at preserving supply sources and improving water availability.
  • Disaster risk management mitigates degradation and instability in areas adjacent to surface water intakes and zones with limited protection of aquifer recharge areas.
     

Water-Related Studies and Initiatives

Water Footprint

Ecopetrol uses the water footprint methodology in direct operation assets based on the ISO 14046:2014 standard and the Water Footprint Network WFN, which allows to identify impacts and demonstrate the benefits of reducing the pressure on water resources, due to the implementation of actions related to operational efficiency in water management, and decarbonization and circular economy initiatives. Likewise, based on the analysis of the indirect water footprint, those raw materials that contribute the most to the impact have been identified, as well as those suppliers of goods and services that could adopt initiatives to reduce the risks associated with water.

This methodology is based on the following impact indicators:

1. Consumption footprint: extracted fresh water that evaporates, incorporates into the product, or is not returned to the basin.
2. Water scarcity footprint: impact of water consumption with respect to available fresh water.
3. Degradation footprint: deterioration of the quality of fresh water due to the contribution of polluting substances. This footprint also allows the identification of priority substances in discharges*, through the indicators of:

• Human toxicity: based on the USEtox model, it evaluates the danger of wastewater discharges in terms of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic toxicity for humans (CTUh)
• Ecotoxicity in freshwater: based on the USEtox model, it evaluates various toxicological mechanisms caused by the release of substances with a direct effect on the health of the ecosystem in (CTUe).
• Ecotoxicity of seawater: based on the Recipe model.
• Acidification of fresh water: based on the Accumulated Surplus AE model, it evaluates the affectation of fresh water due to the release into the atmosphere of NOx, SOx and NH3 that could cause acid rainwater.

In 2024, ICONTEC conducted verification audits on eight production fields based on water footprint reports from 2018 to 2023, confirming compliance with the requirements set forth in the NTC-ISO 14046 standard. The verified assets include: La Cira – Infantas, Llanito, Lisama, Bonanza, Provincia, Yariguí – Cantagallo, Casabe, and Tisquirama, all located in the Central Region.

This recognition adds to that granted by ICONTEC in April 2024 to another eight production fields (Castilla, Chichimene, Akacías, Rubiales, Caño Sur, Cusiana, Cupiagua, and Floreña) and both refineries (Cartagena and Barrancabermeja), resulting in a total of 18 certified assets for water footprint accounting. These certifications not only demonstrate the responsible use of water resources but also reflect contributions to water security in the communities where Ecopetrol operates. This achievement consolidates Ecopetrol’s leadership for the second consecutive year within the Oil & Gas sector in water footprint verification.

It is worth highlighting that, in pursuit of its water neutrality ambition, Ecopetrol has steadily increased water reuse in its operations, thereby reducing the water footprint through lower freshwater withdrawals and fewer discharges into surface water bodies. Additionally, decarbonization projects aimed at reducing gas flaring have helped lower the direct degradation footprint by minimizing pollutant gas emissions. Renewable energy initiatives further support the reduction of the indirect degradation footprint, by decreasing electricity consumption from the National Interconnected System and replacing it with renewable sources.

Water management in the supply chain

Based on the analysis of the categories of goods and services that are most relevant to water management, and the results of the water footprint calculation in Ecopetrol's directly operated assets, adjustments were made to the requirements established in the Environmental Sustainability Guidelines for the Procurement Process. The procurement instruments related to water neutrality should only apply to activities that have intensive use of water in industrial activities.

Therefore, the following categories of goods and services were prioritized:

• Chemical Supply
• Drilling, Completion, and Subsurface Services (in cases where water, fuel, energy, and/or inputs consumption must be reported)
• Drilling Rigs (in cases where water, fuel, energy, and/or inputs consumption must be reported)
• Supply of Steel Pipe
• Waste Management
• Supply of Other Goods (Raw Materials)
  • Cement
  • Barite
  • Calcium Carbonate
  • Chemicals

It is important to highlight that the volumes of withdrawals and consumptions of water by suppliers that provide services at Ecopetrol facilities are included in figures reported by the company. Similarly, the management of discharges generated by these suppliers is carried out through the company's treatment and disposal alternatives for wastewater.

The suppliers of goods and services that carry out operations outside Ecopetrol facilities, the information is being collected to estimate water consumption and some aspects related to water degradation in its operations.

Watershed-Based Land Use Planning

Throughout 2024, Ecopetrol continued monitoring watershed management processes, identifying that out of the 111 Hydrographic Subzones (HSZs) of interest, 47 currently have an approved Watershed Management and Land Use Plan (POMCA), meaning they are regulated; however, four of these are undergoing updates. Additionally, five HSZs are at some stage of formulation, while 59 HSZs have yet to be regulated, as they have not been prioritized by the Environmental Authorities for POMCA development.

It is important to highlight that the adopted POMCAs, as higher-ranking environmental planning instruments, are considered critical inputs in Ecopetrol’s environmental feasibility and project planning processes, serving as key environmental determinants.
Moreover, Ecopetrol actively participates in seven watershed councils for the Sogamoso, Opón, Cocorná, Lebrija Medio, Guavio, Cusiana, and Negro rivers.

In addition, environmental zoning data from 45 POMCAs have been integrated into Ecopetrol’s Environmental Information System (SIA), where the presence of licensed areas and land blocks is registered, thus supporting spatial planning analyses in the company’s operational and developmental activities.
 

Environmental baseline of hydrological and water quality data for the Middle Magdalena Valley (VMM)

In alliance with IDEAM, between 2021 and 2023, the updating and monitoring of the state of surface water resources in the Valle del Magdalena Medio were carried out, providing crucial information for socio-environmental planning and management in this area of the country. This study covered an area of 44.440 km2, mainly focusing on the hydrographic subzones of the Opón, Middle-Low Lebrija, and Sogamoso rivers, and the stretch of the Magdalena River between them, which supply water to approximately 218 municipalities in the departments of Cesar, Santander, Norte de Santander, Boyacá, Bolívar, and Antioquia.

During 3 years of work, the following objectives were achieved:

1. Monitoring, forecasting, and generation of hydrometeorological and surface water quality alerts in the Valle del Magdalena Medio (VMM), for this:

•  A Regional Center for Hydrometeorological and Surface Water Quality Forecasting and Alerts was designed and implemented, located at the Center for Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management (CEGIRD) in Floridablanca, Santander.
• Approximately 635 daily hydrometeorological alert bulletins were generated and disseminated, supplied to local and departmental authorities, actors in the disaster risk management system, and organized community groups. These bulletins can be accessed on the IDEAM website: www.ideam.gov.co by selecting the bulletins section.
• The quantity and quality of water resources were monitored at 31 reference points through 8 campaigns, allowing for tracking of different hydrological and seasonal regimes (high and low water) in the area. However, this period coincided with an extended La Niña phenomenon (from August 2020 to March 2023), with rainfall exceeding historical averages.

2. Determination of the state of surface water resources in the Valle del Magdalena Medio (MMV):

• The estimation of water consumption in the region for human needs was carried out; productive processes such as industries, agriculture, livestock, energy, and construction, among other activities; and demand by ecosystems.
• With the monitoring of water resources and the application of the SWAT (Soil & Water Assessment Tool) model, the hydrological and water quality behavior was established in terms of Water Use Index (WUI), Water Regulation Index (WRI), Aridity Index (AI), Water Quality Index in surface streams (WQI), and Potential Alteration Index of Water Quality (PAIWQ).
• Using field information, time series, and bathymetry, the environmental flow was measured in three stretches of the Sogamoso, Opón, and Middle-Low Lebrija hydrographic subzones. Thus, the natural and altered hydrological regime was characterized according to water uses in the area, and the hydrological, hydraulic, and hydrobiological components of environmental flow were calculated.
• From hydrological and hydraulic modeling, the spatial and temporal variability of flow rates, levels, and their response to current and future climatic conditions were characterized to improve the early warning and flood forecasting system integrated into the IDEAM's FEWS platform. This was complemented by morphodynamic characterization (historical patterns of sediment flow and deposition) and geomorphological conditions along 230 km of the Magdalena River (between the Puerto Berrío station and the Sitio Nuevo station in Puerto Wilches).

3. Strengthening the technical capacity of the Santander Autonomous Regional Corporation (CAS) in surface water resource monitoring; objective was developed in two aspects:

• The first aspect focused on strengthening the technical capacity of CAS professionals responsible for monitoring, analyzing, interpreting, and disseminating hydrometeorological data, covering general aspects of hydrometeorological network design and hydrometeorological data processing, as well as surface water quality.
• The second aspect focused on formulating the Regional Institutional Program for Monitoring the quantity and quality of water (PIRMA) within the jurisdictional area of CAS, and its sources of financing.

4. Design and implementation of the dissemination and communications plan for hydrometeorological monitoring, forecasting, and alerts, as well as surface water quality in the MMV.

• All information generated during the study was incorporated into IDEAM's information systems for public access. Additionally, a publication with the study results was created and can be accessed.

Environmental baseline of hydrology and water quality of the Middle Magdalena Valley (MMV)

This publication synthesizes the results of the work carried out from 2021 to 2023, aimed at strengthening the integrated water management in the hydrographic subzones of the Sogamoso, Lebrija, and Opón rivers and in the stretch of the Magdalena River between them, through the knowledge and evaluation of the quantity and quality of surface and groundwater, the generation of hydrometeorological forecasts and alerts, and the analysis of environmental flow in some stretches of the main rivers. Additionally, it includes the Regional Institutional Program for Monitoring the Quantity and Quality of Water (PIRMA acronym in Spanish) of the Santander Autonomous Regional Corporation – CAS (acronym in Spanish), an instrument that guides and integrates strategies and actions to improve the generation of information and knowledge for integrated water management within the jurisdiction of the environmental authority in accordance with the National Policy for Integrated Water Resource Management - PNGIRH and the National Water Resource Monitoring Program.

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