Maynilad acts to further cut water loss from 46% to 30%

MANILA, Philippines - West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. is aiming to bring down the level of its non-revenue water (NRW) to 30 percent from the current 46 percent.

Maynilad chief operating officer Herbert Consunji said the target for this year is 40 percent and eventually 30 percent.

East Zone concessionaire and Ayala-led Manila Water has brought down its NRW to 11 percent.

Consunji said a 30 percent NRW level may be more cost effective for Maynilad considering the additional expense it would have to incur to dig up old water pipes.

He said the company it is allocating P2.6 billion out of its P8.5- billion capital expenditures this year for its NRW improvement.

Out of its P8.5 billion capital expenditures budget for this year, Maynilad is allocating P3.7 billion to expand its service coverage and improve service levels in its concession area.

The amount will be spent for the reinforcement and replacement of primary pipelines, including the completion of pipelaying projects along the Alabang-Zapote and Gen. Tirona highway which would connect previously unreached customers in the south

The P2.6 billion will fund active leak management, NRW diagnostic, and the establishment, isolation, measurement and rehabilitation of District Metered Areas (DMA) all over the West Zone.

For leak management alone, Maynilad is allocating P269 million, and P981 million for meter clustering and pipe replacement projects.

About P1.6 billion will go to Maynilad’s wastewater program, which will also fund the San Juan river basin project and the upgrade of the Central Manila sewerage system.

The rest of the 2011 capital expenditures budget will be used for water sources, water production, corporate social responsibility, natural calamity mitigation and other projects.

Maynilad is owned and managed by DMCI-MPIC Water Co., Inc. (DMWCI), a joint venture between Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and DMCI Holdings, Inc. (DMCIHI).

Maynilad’s concession area includes the cities of Manila (all but portions of San Andres and Sta Ana), Quezon City (west of San Juan River, West Avenue, EDSA, Congressional, Mindanao Ave., the northern part starting from the districts of the Holy Spirit and Batasan Hills), Makati (west of South Super Hi-way), Caloocan, Pasay, Para-ñaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon all in Metro Manila, Cavite City, and the towns of Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite Province.