Maynilad Water Services Inc. is entering the final stage of constructing 9.12 kilometers of primary distribution pipelines, a step toward bolstering water supply across its southern concession area.

In a statement on Friday, July 31, Maynilad said the ₱5.8 billion project is designed to link the Poblacion Water Treatment Plant in Muntinlupa City directly to Maynilad’s broader distribution grid.

Once fully operational, Maynilad said the expanded infrastructure will allow the utility operator to redirect excess production from its southern facilities to high-demand neighborhoods in Muntinlupa and Las Piñas, stabilizing supply and improving line pressure across the region.

The expansion comes as the utility prepares for potential operational disruptions tied to El Niño.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)  reported active El Niño conditions in the tropical Pacific, warning that the climate pattern could intensify over the coming months and trigger below-normal rainfall, dry spells, and localized droughts across parts of the country.

The new pipeline network gives the utility greater operational flexibility to re-route water supplies during periods of constrained raw water availability at its primary sources, according to Maynilad Chief Operating Officer Christopher Jaime T. Lichauco.

Investments like this form part of a broader push to build a more resilient water system for the West Zone as climate conditions become increasingly unpredictable, Lichauco added.

The pipeline works complement a wider water-security strategy aimed at curbing the company's heavy reliance on a single primary supply source. Maynilad is expanding its infrastructure footprint by tapping supplemental raw water from Laguna Lake, rolling out modular treatment facilities, constructing potable water reuse plants, and building additional storage capacity. Parallel efforts focus on non-revenue water reduction, aggressively patching leaks, and improving overall pressure management across the system.

Maynilad operates the largest water concession in the Philippines by population served, acting as an agent for the state-run Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System. Its coverage area encompasses the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area, serving key portions of Manila, Quezon City, and Makati, as well as the full territories of Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, and Malabon. Its footprint also extends into Cavite province, covering the cities of Cavite, Bacoor, and Imus, alongside the municipalities of Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario.