West Zone water provider Maynilad Water Services Inc. has trimmed its non-revenue water, or NRW, by more than 150 million liters per day as of June 2026 compared with the same month in 2025.
NRW is water that is produced but never paid for—lost through leaks, broken pipes, illegal connections, meter errors, or unbilled use such as for firefighting and public taps.
That recovered volume is enough to supply the daily needs of some 770,000 people, matching the output of a full water treatment plant. It means more water can go straight to customers instead of being wasted.
The improvement comes from fixing leaks and replacing aging pipes across primary, secondary, and tertiary lines throughout the service area.
“Every liter we recover strengthens our supply buffer—especially important as we prepare for possible El Niño-related shortages—without needing to pump more water,” said Maynilad Chief Operating Officer Christopher Jaime Lichauco.
The company’s average NRW rate fell to 31.5 percent in the first half of 2026, down from 36.7 percent a year earlier.
Maynilad has set aside P7.7 billion this year for its NRW reduction work, including replacing pipes and meters, checking for hidden leaks, and setting up zone-based monitoring systems.
The company aims to hit a 25 percent NRW level by 2027 under its approved plan. On current progress, it is on track to reach roughly 25 percent by the close of 2026 and hit a full-year average of 29 percent.
