Maynilad recovers 970M liters a day through system upgrades

Maynilad has successfully reduced its non-revenue water (NRW) level to 36.2 percent as of the first quarter of 2025. This is a big drop from the 66.4 percent recorded in 2006, the year the company was re-privatized. The improvement means 970 million liters of clean water are now recovered each day, enough to supply millions of households.

“Reducing water losses in a highly complex and aged network like ours requires long-term investment and continuous innovation. This milestone underscores our commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and achieving our NRW targets,” said Maynilad Central NRW Head Engr. Ryan Jamora.

The effort to reduce NRW was not simple. Maynilad inherited one of the oldest and most deteriorated pipeline systems from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). Much of the infrastructure was buried deep, leaking, or outdated, requiring massive technical work and sustained capital investments.

In just the first three months of 2025, Maynilad replaced 3,293 kilometers of aging pipes and repaired more than 18,000 leaks. These works are part of the company’s NRW Management Program, which also includes the creation of District Metered Areas (DMAs), active leak detection, advanced diagnostics, and tighter meter management.

According to its IPO Prospectus, Maynilad targets to bring NRW down further to 25 percent by 2027 and to 20 percent by 2030. The goal is to maintain this level until the end of its concession period.

This progress shows how long-term planning and consistent upgrades can lead to real impact. What was once wasted is now reaching families and communities that rely on a steady water supply.