Maynilad hits record low water losses as El Niño readiness improves

Insider Spotlight

• Maynilad cut non-revenue water to a record low 29.7 percent, the first time it breached the 30 percent mark
• Water recovered through leak reduction now equals the output of more than two treatment plants, strengthening El Niño preparedness
• Lower system losses helped improve service reliability while reducing dependence on Angat Dam

Maynilad said its years-long campaign to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) has reached a major milestone, with system losses falling to an all-time low in the first half of 2026, providing a crucial supply buffer as the company prepares for another El Niño dry spell.

The water utility reported NRW of 29.7 percent during the January-to-June period, marking the first time it reduced water losses below the 30 percent threshold. Management said the achievement not only lowers operating costs but also recovers water that can be supplied to customers without building new production capacity.

Why it matters

Chief operating officer Christopher Lichauco said in a press briefing on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026 that every percentage point reduction in NRW translates to more than P70 million in operating expense savings.

More importantly, Maynilad has recovered about 278 million liters per day through its NRW reduction program since 2019, equivalent to the production capacity of more than two water treatment plants. That additional supply is now serving as a buffer against the expected impact of El Niño.

Chris Lichauco

Maynilad's operations head said the MVP-controlled water utility is now at its most efficient level in its history.

The company credited the gains to sustained investments in replacing aging pipelines, pressure management, meter modernization and leak detection, supported by company-wide initiatives to identify and repair losses across its network. It expects NRW to decline further, reaching about 27 percent by year-end.

Looking ahead

The record-low NRW has become a key pillar of Maynilad’s climate resilience strategy.

Lichauco said the company has reduced its dependence on Angat Dam from about 90 percent during the 2019 El Niño to 83 percent today through new treatment plants, alternative water sources and recovered water from NRW reduction. 

That dependence is expected to fall further to 81 percent by year-end as additional facilities come online.

The utility said these improvements have enabled it to maintain uninterrupted service despite Angat Dam falling to around the 150-meter level, compared with the widespread service interruptions experienced during the 2019 dry spell. 

Maynilad said it will continue investing in NRW reduction and alternative water sources as it seeks to strengthen water security while preparing for increasingly severe climate events. —Daxim L. Lucas| Ed: Corrie S. Narisma