East zone concessionaire Manila Water Company Inc. said the level of its non-revenue water has improved and is now on par with water utilities in developed countries when it comes to the level of water losses.
Manila Water achieved an average of 12.69 percent NRW in 2022, one of the lowest in Asia. This means that for every cubic meter of water produced, only around 0.12 cubic meters are lost, usually due to leaks or illegal connections.
The company highlighted this achievement, which was far cry from the 63 percent NRW inherited by the company in 1997 and about half the standard set by the World Bank on NRW of 25 percent or lower. With the record NRW in 2022, Manila Water has joined the ranks of developed countries like Japan, Germany, England and Wales and Singapore with NRW of 15 percent or less.
Since 1997, Manila Water has put a premium on reducing its water losses, especially since it takes time to develop long-term water sources, which include the construction of infrastructure such as dams and large water mains.
Manila Water’s approach to reducing non-revenue water includes a multi-pronged approach that puts together a combination of proactive technical solutions, engineering and social interventions.
It remains vigorous in rehabilitating aging primary lines and maintaining the integrity of its mainlines. Regular maintenance and rehabilitation reduce the incidence of breakages in the water system. When breakages do occur, the company ensures work efficiency to fix the leak as fast as possible. In 2022, Manila Water repaired a total of 529 pipe bursts, all within 24 hours.
Manila Water remained persistent in cracking down on illegal connections, not merely to further minimize NRW but also to protect the public’s health. Illegal connections are prone to breakages and, therefore, contamination since they are made with substandard materials.
With its social flagship program called “Tubig para sa Barangay,” Manila Water teamed up with marginalized communities to provide affordable and safe water connections, completing 29 projects with 826 new water connections that delivers clean and potable water to 1,222 low-income households.
Because of the low NRW level, Manila Water facilitated the installation of 33,309 new water service connections in the east zone of Metro Manila and Rizal in 2022, compared to 21,680 in 2021.
“Water is not unlimited. It is a finite resource; hence, we see to it that our NRW remains at manageable levels and at par with global standards, if not better. We care for every drop, knowing that every drop we save goes to our customers,” said Manila Water group director for corporate communications affairs Jeric Sevilla.
