MAYNILAD Water Services Inc. (Maynilad) said its water-storage capacity has increased by 345 million liters (ML) with the rehabilitation of five old reservoirs and construction of 13 new ones within its concession area.
In a statement, Maynilad said this doubles the company’s storage capacity when it was reprivatized in 2007.
From only seven reservoirs in 2007, Maynilad now has 32 operational reservoirs, which have a combined water-storage capacity of 710 ML, or a 95-percent increase compared to only 365 ML a mere 11 years ago.
These facilities enhance Maynilad’s capability to bring potable water to elevated and far-flung portions of its concession area, where supply availability is still limited. It also allows for better pressure management when there is a supply crunch, such as during times of El Niño, the company said.
The construction of new reservoirs is among Maynilad’s initiatives to help ensure water security and reliability in its concession area.
“We still need to build more reservoirs and pumping stations moving forward, as the population continues to grow along with the demand for the uninterrupted supply of potable water,” Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez said.
There are 12 million people in Metro Manila who rely on water provided by two private water companies. About 97 percent of the water comes from the Angat Dam.
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 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. The other private water company is Manila Water, whose concession area is the so-called East Zone.