Maynilad, the private water concessionaire for the West Zone, has ended the dry spell experienced by over 900 poor families in Malate, Manila with the completion of a P11.5 million pipelaying project in the area.
The P11.5 million Total Pipe Replacement Project involved the replacement of 1.7 kilometers of deteriorated pipes in Barangays 745, 746, 753 and 754 in Malate, Manila.
Replacing the old pipes in the four communities solved their long-standing problem of low water pressure and short supply schedule due to the prevalence of illegal connections and leaks in the areas.
Through the project, Maynilad is now able to provide its customers in the area with 24-hours water supply at up to 25-psi (pounds per square inch) pressure. At 7-psi, water can reach the second floor of a building.
Before the project, unconnected residents would endure long lines at the public faucet or buy water from neighbors with registered connections at high prices. Water quality issues also plagued the residents due to illegal connections that allowed contaminants to enter the pipes.
“Fear of being caught using illegal connection is now a thing of the past in our barangay. We’re now also confident that the water we drink and use is of high quality, unlike before,” Brgy. 745 Chairman Michael Co said.
Maynilad also implemented a meter-clustering scheme in the area to better monitor the meters and eliminate illegal connections especially in narrow and interior streets.
According to housewife Marivi Saavedra, their electric consumption dropped significantly since they stopped using their booster pump with the better water pressure. “I also have more time for other chores since I don’t have to worry anymore about water supply,” she said.
Since 2007, Maynilad has spent nearly P20 billion to improve and expand its water service in the West Zone. MWSS recently approved Maynilad’s application for a 15-year term extension of their Concession Agreement. If the application is approved by the Department of Finance, Maynilad can raise its capital investments and lower future water rate increases in the West Zone.
