In an attempt to minimize water losses, west zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. has tapped an infrastructure intelligence firm to provide satellite and artificial intelligence (AI) technology to detect areas in need of repair.

In a statement on Monday, May 6, Maynilad said it collaborated with Asterra, an underground soil infrastructure monitoring company that originally developed water detection on other planets.

Asterra’s satellite imagery and AI technology would allow Maynilad to study underground pipe leaks for repair and replacement.

“Its use involves applying algorithmic analysis to track the spectral signature of potable water underground over a land area of approximately 3,000 square kilometers captured in a satellite image,” Maynilad said.

The concessionaire further explained that leakage information can be picked up through AI algorithms, which could report specific street locations to allow faster underground leak operations.

Since its pilot utilization, Maynilad has actively detected 1,000 kilometers of primary lines within the western part of Metro Manila.

Maynilad President and Chief Executive Officer Ramoncito S. Fernandez shared its swift information recovery for pipe leaks through the help of AI.

“By leveraging on this cutting-edge technology, Maynilad can locate underground pipe leaks in a more efficient way, as it reduces the time and effort needed for our field personnel to pin-point leak sources that often involves digging test pits on the streets,” he said.

“This will help to facilitate our leak detection and repair activities, which are an essential part of our non-revenue water management program.” he added.

This state-of-the-art monitoring system is part of the P16.5 billion budget under the non-revenue water (NRW) management program.

The initiative began last year and will finish in 2027, aiming to reduce NRW in the West Zone including parts of Manila, Quezon City, Makati, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, Malabon, Cavite and Cavite Province.