West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) repaired nearly 12,000 leaks in the first quarter of 2012. This is approximately 17% higher compared to the same period last year. Most of these leaks were found on primary and secondary lines in Caloocan, Manila and Quezon City.
The water company was able to boost its leak repairs as a result of its Active Leakage Control program (ALC). This year, Maynilad allocated P300 million for its ALC program, which involves the repair of pipe leaks and maintenance of appurtenances. Meanwhile, Maynilad earmarked P20 million to purchase new leak detection equipment.
“We inherited a lot of old and deteriorated pipes. Instead of implementing total pipe replacements which are very costly and disruptive to the public, we’re actively searching for underground leaks so we can repair them using more cost-efficient means,” explains Maynilad President and CEO Ricky P. Vargas.
Maynilad uses several state-of-the-art leak detection technologies that include the Sahara® mobile leak detection system, Aquascan Trunk Main (TM) leak noise correlator, JD7 LDS2010 “Investigator” CCTV leak noise correlator. It is the first water company in the Philippines and even in Asia to tap these technologies.
Owned and managed by Metro Pacific Investments Corporation and DMCI Holdings, Inc., Maynilad is a 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 (all but portions of San Andres & Sta Ana), Quezon City (west of San Juan River, West Avenue, EDSA, Congressional, Mindanao Avenue, the northern part starting from the Districts of the Holy Spirit & Batasan Hills), Makati (west of South Super Hi-way), Caloocan, Pasay, Paranaque, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon all in Metro Manila; Cavite City, and the towns of Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite Province.
In photo: Maynilad contractors implementing leak repair activities.
