Maynilad Water Services, Inc. will implement a series of water system replacement and repair projects in Manila to address non-revenue water (NRW) and improve the city's water infrastructure.

Maynilad said the west zone water concessionaire has allocated P2.7 billion for its four-year NRW management program, which aims to address piping issues in Manila City.

Maynilad Chief Operating Officer Randolph T. Estrellado, said that the substantial water losses in Manila are mainly due to outdated government-owned networks, which the concessionaire inherited, and widespread illegal connections.

Within the budget, P2.4 billion will be used for pipe replacement, while P151 million will be allotted for leak repairs.

Additionally, activities like network diagnostics and leak detection works will have a budget of P190 million.

The project period began in 2023 and will be finished by 2027.

“To reduce water losses in this area, we have already replaced 701 kilometers of old pipes since 2007,” Estrellado said.

The finished pipe replacements were also expedited through the help of the Manila Local Government Unit (LGU). According to Maynilad Chief, the LGU was able to issue permits and assess traffic management during the process.

“The P2.7 billion allocation for the City of Manila is part of the P16.5-billion NRW Management Program of Maynilad for 2023 to 2027, which aims to further reduce water losses in the West Zone,” Maynilad reported.

Maynilad continues to be the largest privately owned water concessionaire in the country.

Led by Manny V. Pangilinan, the concessionaire is under the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and occupies the western part of the Greater Manila Area.

Cities under Maynilad besides parts of Manila are portions of Quezon City, Makati, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, and Malabon. Cities of Cavite, Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario, and Cavite Provinces are also part of Maynilad’s customer base.