West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. has concluded its pipe replacement project in parts of Manila, aiming to improve water pressure and meet the growing demand of consumers in the area.

In a statement, Maynilad said the project, which cost P380 million, replaced 1.7 kilometers of primary, secondary, and tertiary pipelines, upgrading the outdated and undersized infrastructure.

Maynilad said this investment is expected to enhance water supply and quality for residents in Tondo and Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Maynilad said this would also benefit around 83,000 residents as the system upgrade would recover an estimated four million liters per day (MLD) of treated water that was lost due to leaks and illegal connections.

The water concessionaire also said that water pressure had gone up from seven pounds per square inch (psi) up to 16 psi.

“At a 16-psi pressure, water supply can reach the third storey of a structure without the aid of a booster pump,” Maynilad explained.

Randolph T. Estrellado, the firm’s chief operating officer said that this project is part of their effort to boost service reliability. “By replacing undersized pipes, we are also future-proofing our distribution system to handle higher consumption,” he added.

The pipe constructions in Binondo and Sta. Cruz was initiated last 2022.

Furthermore, Maynilad plans to replace around 592 kilometers of deteriorated pipelines throughout the western part of Metro Manila by the next three years. This is in line with its goal to upgrade its infrastructure and reduce any water losses and provide better service to its consumers.

At present, the water firm allocated P4 billion to replace its pipe system within its concession area.

Maynilad also reported that 92 percent of its water losses are due to physical damages such as leaks, while the rest are from commercial losses such as illegal connections and inaccurate water metering. As of yearend 2023, the firm’s average non-revenue water (NRW) is at 43 percent.