West Zone Concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) is spending some P 239 million for a pipe-laying project in the cities of Bacoor and Imus, Cavite, which will connect approximately 23,000 new Cavite customers to Maynilad’s water distribution network.
The project involves laying almost 12 kilometers of primary and secondary lines along Daang Hari Road—from the intersection of Molino Road to Pasong Buaya 1 Road.
Upon its completion in the last week of October 2017, residents of Barangays Molino III and IV and Pasong Buaya I and II will enjoy 24-hour piped-in potable water at a strong pressure of 16 psi (pounds per square inch). At 16 psi, water supply can reach the third storey of a structure without the need for a booster pump.
Before connecting to Maynilad, these residents relied heavily on deep wells and shallow wells for their daily water supply needs. With this connection to surface water from Maynilad, over-extraction of groundwater in Cavite can be averted.
Over-extraction of groundwater has negative environmental consequences, such as land sinking and saltwater intrusion into water tables. Moreover, various health risks have been associated with the prolonged use of untreated water from deep wells.
“Maynilad is aggressive in its efforts to provide potable and reliable water supply to the still-unserved residents in our concession area. With this recent investment in new pipelines in Cavite, we will be able to sustain our expansion in the province,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez.
Of Maynilad’s P13.3 billion capital expenditure budget for this year, P 7.5 billion has been allocated for water infrastructure projects to connect more customers and enhance supply availability and pressure in the West Zone.
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.