Maynilad to replace 639 km of leaking pipes

MANILA, Philippines — Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad) plans to replace 639 kilometers of old, leaky pipes in the next five years as part of upgrading its distribution system to reduce water losses.

For this undertaking, Maynilad allocated around P9.9 billion for the replacement of deteriorated pipelines in portions of Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Muntinlupa, and Las Piñas.

Once completed, these pipe replacements – along with Maynilad’s leak repair and network diagnostic activities – will allow for the recovery of some 66 million liters per day (MLD) of water.

The estimated recovered water would be enough to supply the water needs of almost 340,000 residents, the company said.

“We are committed to investing in our infrastructure to continuously improve our services. Our goal is to provide 100 percent of our concession area with 24-hour supply at appropriate water pressure,” Maynilad COO Randolph Estrellado said.

Since its re-privatization in 2007, Maynilad has replaced 2,974 kilometers of old pipelines, which is as long as the distance between Manila and Beijing, China.

This means that Maynilad has already renewed around 64 percent of the pipe network it inherited from the government in 2007, some segments of which were installed as far back as World War II.

The pipe replacement project is part of Maynilad’s P219.8-billion total spending plan for 2023 to 2027.

The five-year program includes the laying of new pipelines, construction of additional pumping stations and reservoirs, replacement and repair of old pipes, construction of new sewage treatment plants, and rehabilitation of existing water and wastewater facilities, among others.

Of the total spending plan, P22 billion will be allocated for new seven water treatment plants in Muntinlupa, Pasay, Parañaque, Cavite, and Rizal.

They will get raw water from various sources, including Laguna Lake, Kaliwa Dam, some rivers in Cavite province, and the treated used water discharged by the company’s Water Reclamation Facilities.

These facilities will add more than 545 MLD of water supply for distribution to customers, thus helping to reduce service interruptions.

It is also allocating P2.8 billion for new pumping stations and reservoirs in Quezon City, Valenzuela City, Muntinlupa City and Cavite to boost water pressure in the pipe network and add 211 million liters to Maynilad’s water storage capacity.

As a result, supply distribution will be improved particularly in elevated areas where water availability is still limited, Maynilad said.

Meanwhile, Maynilad is also spending around P1.5 billion to rehabilitate 17 of its existing pumping stations and reservoirs to ensure operational efficiency and sustain optimum performance.

Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base.

It is the concessionaire of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of the cities of Manila (certain portions), Quezon City (certain portions), Makati (west of South Super Highway), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite province.