West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) is spending more than P197 million to replace 25 kilometers of old pipelines along Burgos St. and Julian Felipe St. in Cavite City.
Once completed, the project is estimated to increase water pressure for more than 5,600 households from an average of 7 pounds per square inch (psi) to 16 psi. It is also set to connect some 465 households to Maynilad’s distribution network.
Replacing the 30-year-old pipelines will allow Maynilad to recover some 6 million liters of water per day (MLD) lost due to illegal connections and leaks. This volume is enough to supply the needs of some 6,000 households.
“Pipe leaks and inadequate water pressure draw contaminants into pipelines, thus affecting the quality of water supply. This is why we are aggressive in our efforts to replace old pipelines in our concession area,†said Maynilad President and CEO Ricky P. Vargas.
In 2014 alone, Maynilad earmarked P1.4 billion for pipe replacement projects across the West Zone. Around 80% of Maynilad\’s water losses are due to leaks (physical losses) while the rest are losses due to illegal connections and inaccurate water metering (commercial losses).
Maynilad is an 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 areas), Quezon City (certain areas), Makati (certain areas), 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.