A Philippine company says it has slashed water system losses in two Yangon townships under a pilot project conducted in partnership with the Yangon City Development Committee and Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation.
Manila Water Company Inc said average losses in Insein and South Okkalapa townships had been cut from more than 54 percent to 14 percent, the Manila Standard reported on April 4.
Manila Water said the pilot had resulted in improved water pressure and access to supply for an estimated 4,000 users in the project area, as well as increased revenues for the YCDC. The replacement of water meters had doubled registered billed volume, said the company, which supplies water to more than six million people in eastern Manila.
The company said the project cut water losses in Insein’s Htan Pin Gone ward from 52 percent to 17.32 percent between March and August last year. In South Okkalapa, water losses plunged from 57 percent to 12.19 percent between March and November last year.
The pilot project was conducted as part of an agreement signed by Manila Water, the YCDC and Mitsubishi in 2014. As well as reducing losses, known as non-revenue water, the project included the creation of district metering areas and technical and non-technical surveys.
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Manila Water Asia Pacific president and chief executive Mr Virgilio Rivera said the project showed that the company had the expertise and experience to help YCDC provide sustainable water services.
Rivera said Manila Water was “excited” by the YCDC’s interest in a plan to create a public-private partnership to address system losses on a larger scale and supply potable water at reasonable cost to the public, the Manila Standard reported.
Manila Water, a subsidiary of the Philippine conglomerate, Ayala Corp, says it cut system losses in eastern Metro Manila to 11 percent, from a high of 63 percent.
