Manila Water keeps system losses below 15% for El Niño readiness

MANILA, Philippines — As Manila Water strengthens its preparations for the anticipated impacts of a looming strong El Niño, the company continues to maximize every available drop of treated water by keeping its non-revenue water (NRW), or system losses, below 15 percent, a performance level comparable to that achieved by many utilities in developed countries.

In August 2026, Manila Water recorded an NRW level of 14.65 percent, while year-to-date NRW stood at 14.29 percent. A one percent reduction in NRW translates to an additional 15-16 million liters delivered to customers.

NRW refers to treated water that is produced but does not get billed as water is lost due to leaks, pipe bursts, illegal connections, tampered meters, and other commercial losses. Keeping NRW at low levels allows more water to be delivered to customers without drawing additional supplies from existing water sources.

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The sustained NRW performance reflects nearly three decades of investments in leak detection and repair, mainline extension and rehabilitation, district metering, meter replacement, pressure management, network monitoring, and preventive maintenance. From an NRW level of about 63 percent at the start of its concession in 1997, Manila Water has steadily reduced system losses to below 15 percent, making it one of the company’s most significant operational achievements.

The company’s NRW performance remains among the best in Asia and at par with the standards achieved by many water utilities in developed countries, where low water losses are considered a key indicator of operational efficiency and water sustainability.

As forecasts point to the possibility of a strong El Niño episode which may persist up to 2027, minimizing water losses has become even more critical. Every liter recovered from leaks and other losses translates into more water being made available to households, businesses, and institutions across the East Zone.

Supporting Manila Water’s NRW performance is its rapid response to pipe failures. In August 2026, the company repaired all 38 reported disruptive mainline pipe bursts measuring 300 millimeters and below within its 24-hour service commitment, achieving 100 percent compliance for the month. From January to August 2026, all 297 disruptive mains failures were likewise repaired within the prescribed response period.

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“Keeping system losses low is one of the most effective ways to stretch available water resources, especially as we prepare for the challenges posed by climate change and extreme weather events such as El Niño. Every drop recovered from our network is a drop that can be delivered to our customers,” said Dittie Galang, Manila Water Communication Affairs Department Head.

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As Manila Water continues to diversify its water sources and strengthen its network infrastructure, maintaining world-class NRW performance remains a key pillar of the company’s strategy to ensure water security and reliable 24/7 service for its more than 7.9 million customers, particularly during periods of prolonged dry weather.