West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. is optimistic about cutting non-revenue water (NRW) losses to 25 percent by 2027, utilizing the remaining P20.6 billion budget as of the first quarter under its five-year capital spending plan, which began in 2023.

Maynilad Central NRW head Ryan Jamora said the company will continue to leverage advanced technologies to meet its targets.

“Our NRW reduction program is a sustained, multi-year commitment. Replacing aging pipelines is a critical part of this strategy, as it not only reduces water losses but also improves pressure and reliability for our customers,” Jamora said.

“We are working toward our target of reducing NRW to 34 percent this year — a substantial improvement from the 66 percent NRW level prior to Maynilad’s re-privatization in 2007,” he added.

Pipes being replaced

Under its government-approved 2023–2027 Business Plan, Maynilad is implementing pipe replacement projects in priority zones, in coordination with local government units and stakeholders.

As of end-March, Maynilad had repaired 18,070 pipe leaks, up 41 percent from the same period last year. In 2024, the company fixed 57,562 leaks, a 57.4 percent increase from 2023, according to its IPO prospectus.

The utility stated that 90 percent of total non-revenue water (NRW) originates from physical losses, such as pipe leaks, while the remaining 10 percent stems from commercial losses, including unauthorized connections.

Leak detection and repair efforts are supported by technologies like correlators, acoustic loggers, and ground microphones, deployed across Maynilad’s expanding network of District Metered Areas.

Maynilad, the largest private water concessionaire under the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System in terms of customer base, serves key areas in Metro Manila and Cavite.