The company said water supply across its concession area remains stable, with preparations now supported by expanded treatment capacity, additional water sources, larger storage facilities, and improved network management compared with previous drought episodes.
In a statement, Maynilad said it continues to coordinate with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and other government agencies to monitor evolving water supply conditions.
Expanded capacity
"Maynilad recognizes the concern over the continued decline in Angat Dam levels and the possible effects of El Niño. We have been preparing for these circumstances since previous El Niño episodes, particularly in 2019, when Angat Dam dropped to its historical low level," Maynilad chief operating officer Christopher Jaime T. Lichauco said in the statement.
"The Maynilad system today has more buffers than it had in 2019. Angat Dam remains our main raw water source, but we now have more supplemental sources, lower water losses, expanded storage, and improved network management capabilities to help manage tighter raw water conditions," he added.
A major component of the company's preparedness is its Laguna Lake treatment system, which now has a combined capacity of 450 million liters per day (MLD) through Putatan Water Treatment Plants 1 and 2 and the Poblacion Water Treatment Plant. Each facility has a design capacity of 150 MLD.
Since 2019, Maynilad has also increased its overall treatment capacity by 173 MLD to 2,873 MLD from 2,700 MLD through additional treatment facilities and supply augmentation projects, including modular treatment plants, New Water facilities, and deep wells where appropriate.
Alternative sources
Maynilad said its New Water program continues to expand as part of its long-term supply strategy.
The program produces potable water from treated wastewater using advanced treatment technologies, including ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and disinfection. The company currently operates New Water facilities in Parañaque and Valenzuela and expects to commission its 12-million-liter-per-day Pasay New Water facility in 2026.
The company has likewise increased reservoir storage by 88 million liters since 2019, raising total capacity to 780 million liters from 692 million liters.
With the completion of the 40-million-liter Parada Reservoir and the 200-million-liter La Mesa raw water reservoir later this year, total storage capacity is projected to reach 1.02 billion liters.
Reducing losses
Another key pillar of Maynilad's El Niño preparedness is its intensified non-revenue water (NRW) reduction program.
As of the first quarter of 2026, the company reduced its average NRW to 32 percent, while period-end NRW stood at 30.7 percent.
In 2025 alone, Maynilad recovered 256 million liters per day through leak reduction and network efficiency measures—equivalent to the output of more than one and a half major water treatment plants.
The company attributed these gains to leak detection and repair, pipe replacement, meter management, pressure regulation, and other network optimization initiatives that help reduce water losses and distribute available supply more efficiently.
Maynilad said it also maintains contingency measures, including mobile water tankers and stationary water tanks, to support communities affected by localized low water pressure or temporary service interruptions.
"Maynilad's investments in additional sources, NRW reduction, storage, treatment upgrades, and network management give us more tools to reduce the risk and extent of service disruption under tighter raw water conditions," Lichauco said.
"While the severity and duration of El Niño will ultimately depend on weather patterns and raw water availability, we will continue to implement appropriate measures to protect service reliability as conditions evolve."
The company also urged customers to use water responsibly by avoiding unnecessary consumption, repairing household leaks, and reporting street leaks and illegal connections. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
