Manila Water Co. said keeping water losses below 15 percent has helped it maintain uninterrupted 24/7 water service across its East Zone concession as El Niño continues to put pressure on the water supply.

The Razon-led utility said its low level of non-revenue water (NRW), together with a diversified portfolio of water sources, has strengthened water availability and system reliability for its 7.9 million customers despite prolonged dry conditions.

"Our diversified water sources have significantly helped strengthen water availability during the ongoing El Niño, but our low NRW has been the silent ally working behind the scenes to ensure that more water reaches our customers," Dittie Galang, Manila Water corporate communication affairs head, said on Monday.

"By reducing losses within our network, we are able to maximize every drop of water we produce and continue providing reliable 24/7 service despite challenging conditions," she added.

In May, Manila Water posted an NRW level of 13.45 percent, bringing its average for the first five months of the year to 14.36 percent. 

Manila Water said it has cut its NRW from 63 percent in 1997 to below 15 percent today. It added that every one percentage-point reduction in NRW makes at least 15 million liters of water per day available to customers.

NRW refers to treated water that is produced but does not reach customers because of leaks, pipe bursts, illegal connections, meter inaccuracies, and other system losses.

The company said it keeps NRW low through continuous investments in operational efficiency and proactive network management, including active leak detection, pressure management and testing, upgraded water monitoring instruments, and the deployment of quick leak response teams across its concession area.

It also encourages customers to promptly report leaks and other service concerns to help prevent unnecessary water losses.

Manila Water said its low NRW complements investments in alternative water sources, including the Upper Wawa Dam, East Bay Phase 1 Water Treatment Plant, Cardona Water Treatment Plant, and Calawis Water Supply System Phase 1.