Recovering more than 400 million liters per day of wastewater and turning them into potable water earned Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad) two sustainability awards.

Maynilad chief sustainability officer Atty. Roel S. Espiritu received the company’s awards for Asia’s Most Influential Companies and Top Green Companies in Asia at the 2025 ACES Awards held in Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia on 27 to 28 November.

The honors recognize the sustainability leadership of the water concessionaire for Metro Manila’s West Zone and its efforts to improve water services and resource stewardship across its service area.

ACES Awards organizer MORS Group of Malaysia cited Maynilad for its aggressive non-revenue water (NRW) reduction program, which lowered water losses and enabled the recovery of over 400 million liters of potable water daily.

The largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base supplies certain parts of the cities of Manila, Quezon City, Makati, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon, all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the municipalities of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite Province.

Under the NRW, Maynilad decommissioned over 9,000 illegal service connections, recovered 800,000 cubic meters of water, and upgraded 3,264 kilometers of distribution lines since 2006.

Through a combination of artificial intelligence-assisted pipeline monitoring, acoustic sensors, predictive maintenance, and the replacement of 142 kilometers of aging pipes in 2024 alone also helped achieve the progress.

These technical advancements were further complemented by stakeholder-inclusive initiatives, such as employee-led network inspections like the “Grand Walk the Line,” which fostered collaboration and accountability across all levels of the organization.

“These initiatives demonstrate Maynilad’s commitment to sustainable water management, aligned with global climate goals and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal on Clean Water and Sanitation,” said Espiritu. “We are honored to be recognized, and this inspires us to continue investing in long-term solutions that secure water access for future generations.”

Maynilad was also cited for pioneering New Water — Asia’s first direct potable reuse project — and for deploying modular treatment plants to tap alternative sources and reduce dependence on Angat Dam.

The NRW and New Water projects underscore Maynilad’s role in modernizing the Philippine water sector and promoting climate resilience.

The ACES Awards celebrate businesses that drive positive impact through responsible leadership and corporate governance.