West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. has earmarked over P2.6 billion for 2011 to be spent on measures to reduce the level of water losses (non-revenue water) due to leakage and pilferage to 48 percent.
This capital expenditure (capex) level reflected a 53-percent increase from the P1.7 billion that the company had allocated for non-revenue water projects in 2010, Maynilad said in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to Maynilad, the capex budget would be invested to improve its network infrastructure and to provide its employees continuous training on the various non-revenue water management activities—all of which are expected to help sustain Maynilad’s non-revenue water reduction programs. Last year, Maynilad reported that its level of water losses was at a high of 53 percent.
Irineo L. Dimaano, head of the central non-revenue water department of Maynilad, said a portion of the budget amounting to P916 million will be used for selective pipe rehabilitation program to recover almost 140 million liters of water per day (MLD) in the areas of Sampaloc, Tondo, Quirino-Roosevelt, and other various locations.
Dimaano added that Maynilad has also acquired a specialized leak detection device called “leak correlators” that work for large pipes. This, he said, will help locate leaks in primary lines, thus reducing water losses.
Maynilad said it was also in the process of exploring equipment that function similarly as the Sahara mobile leak detection system.
“Both equipment will open possibilities in covering primary networks that the company can subject to leak detection,” he added.
Late last year, Maynilad started to spearhead the trial implementation of an automatic pressure regulating device, which would help the company manage the excessive pressures in the pipe system.
Maynilad is owned and managed by DMCI-MPIC Water Company Inc., a joint venture between Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and DMCI Holdings Inc. It currently services Manila (except San Andres and Sta. Ana), parts of Quezon City, Makati, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, Malabon, Cavite City and some towns of Cavite province.
