Maynilad acquires second mobile leak detection unit

West zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. has acquired another mobile leak detection unit, which the company says could help recover millions of liters of water from potential leaks.

In an emailed statement, Maynilad said it acquired its second detection equipment from Sahara, an acoustic sensor inserted into pipes.

The device enables engineers to conduct audio and visual inspection inside pipes without shutting down the water supply to customers.

"Underground pipe leaks are very difficult to find, so we utilize the latest types of technology to facilitate network rehabilitation and ultimately boost our non-revenue water (NRW) reduction campaign," said Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez.

According to Maynilad, it acquired its first Sahara leak detection unit in 2010, and has since resolved 1,000 pipe leak incidents, recovering about 183 million liters of water per day (MLD).

Maynilad last month announced a spending program of P16.8 billion this year, nearly double the P9 billion in 2018.

Bulk or 70% of the capital expenditure will be spent on wastewater management projects, and to comply with standards set to maintain network reliability.

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 (MWSS) 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 Superhighway), 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. —LDF/BAP, GMA News