MANILA Water Co. Inc. said Tuesday that system-wide readiness had been reinforced to ensure continuous supply and reliable service delivery across its East Zone concession area ahead of an expected severe El Niño later this year.
The water concessionaire said a comprehensive suite of operational, infrastructure and customer engagement measures had been put in place to maintain supply resilience despite prolonged periods of reduced rainfall and potential strain on traditional water sources.
These initiatives, it continued, included the full integration of alternative raw water sources, including the Upper Wawa Dam and the Tayabasan Weir, both of which can supply up to a combined 710 million liters per day (MLD).
It said the supply is backed up by the Calawis Water Supply System Phase 1, which can provide up to 80 MLD; the Cardona Water Treatment Plant with a capacity of up to 110 MLD; and the East Bay Phase 1 Treatment Plant, which contributes up to 50 MLD.
Complementing these supply-side measures, Manila Water said it had also ensured the integrity and resilience of its water supply network and treatment facilities, noting it has laid and maintained 5,686.75 kilometers (as of March 2026) of pipeline infrastructure across its concession area.
These networks and facilities are supported by regular inspection as well as maintenance and system optimization to guard against service disruptions during peak dry conditions.
Together with the pipeline initiatives, Manila Water said it also continued to invest in innovative technologies that maximize existing resources.
Among these is the implementation of backwash water recovery systems in its Balara, East La Mesa and Cardona treatment plants, which allow the company to reuse water from filtration processes and effectively stretch production capacity without compromising water quality.
Manila Water said operational readiness remained a priority, noting it conducts year-round inspection, maintenance, and optimization activities at its pumping stations. These stations, it added, are backed by standby generator sets to ensure uninterrupted water production and distribution.
Leak detection and rapid response capabilities had also been intensified to swiftly identify and address pipe leaks and minimize water losses while preserving available supply.
Manila Water is majority owned (52.16 percent) by Enrique Razon-led Trident Water Co. Holdings Inc. Other key shareholders are Philwater Holdings Co. Inc. (19.01 percent) and Ayala Corp. (12.26 percent).
On Tuesday, Manila Water shares dipped P0.45, or 1.06 percent, to close at P42.10 apiece.
