Maynilad completes 1.1-billion pipe replacement project

West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) has already completed its 1.1-billion pipe replacement project that started last year in order to cut its water losses due to old, leaky pipes.

Maynilad particularly invested 1.1 billion in 2015 to start replacing 235 kilometers of old, leaky pipes in its service area. As of now, the completed projects were located in various portions of Quezon City, Caloocan, Manila, Parañaque, and Cavite City.

The pipe replacement projects allowed Maynilad to recover some 58 million liters per day (MLD) of potable water, which is enough to supply around 411,800 customers.

“When we took over Maynilad in 2007, the pipe network we inherited included the oldest water system in Asia. Maynilad has since replaced around 1,520 km. of damaged pipes in the West Zone. We are committed to upgrading our network for the benefit of our customers,” said Maynilad president and chief executive officer Ramoncito S. Fernandez.

For 2015, Maynilad was also able to generate around 3,300 jobs from its pipe replacement projects. These jobs include those generated by the contractors and suppliers of the company.

Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base. It is the agent and contractor 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.

For this year, Maynilad is investing 13.6 billion for its water and wastewater infrastructure projects to help ensure sufficient water supply and pressure in the West Zone.

In a statement, the Maynilad said that more than half of 2016 capital expenditures (CAPEX) or around 7.5 billion will go to its water infrastructure projects, while more than 3.9 billion has been earmarked for operation support programs such as the construction, rehabilitation and upgrade of treatment plants, pumping stations and reservoirs, and the laying of primary pipelines for water service expansion.