Japanese utility to help PH plug water leaks

MANILA, Philippines  —The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS RO) has partnered with a Japanese water utility firm to improve services in the Philippines, particularly within the concession area of Maynilad Water Services Inc.

The MWSS RO last week said Yokohama Water Co. Ltd. would assess Maynilad’s nonrevenue water systems and programs to help cut water loss.

Under their memorandum of agreement, the MWSS RO said Yokohama Water’s findings would be used to reduce Maynilad’s nonrevenue water, or water lost due to leaks and illegal connections, to a “more reasonable level.”

READ: Maynilad in P16.5-B effort to cut water losses

This is expected to enhance water service quality in the West Concession Area, which is composed of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela cities; parts of Quezon City, Manila, Makati, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa, and some areas in Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Rosario, Noveleta and Cavite City in Cavite province.

Yokohama Water currently provides water and sewerage services in Yokohama, Japan. It has previously partnered with the Cagayan de Oro Water District in an advisory capacity to likewise aid in cutting water loss.

Nonrevenue water level reduction

Maynilad previously said it had cut its nonrevenue water level in 2022 to 43 percent of its total water produced. This is lower than the 68 percent ratio recorded in 2006, or a year prior to the reprivatization of the water utility.

However, this is also still far below the World Bank’s recommended nonrevenue ratio of less than 25 percent of total water production.

Maynilad aims to reach this level by 2027, and further reduce this to just 20 percent by the end of the decade.

Leaks account for around 80 percent of Maynilad’s water losses, while the remaining 20 percent is caused by illegal connections and inaccurate water metering.

In 2023, the company set aside P4 billion for its nonrevenue water management program.