Maynilad has undertaken nearly ₱10 billion in La Mesa upgrades to strengthen water supply resilience

by Info @Brand Zone | October 28, 2026

WATER SUPPLY RESILIENCE. Maynilad’s La Mesa water treatment facilities and the ongoing conversion of former sludge lagoons into raw water reservoirs. Nearly ₱10 billion worth of major rehabilitation and improvement works are being undertaken at La Mesa to strengthen treatment capability, enhance water recovery and raw water augmentation, expand storage, and provide greater operational flexibility under changing raw water conditions. Date of Release: October 27, 2026

West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) has undertaken nearly ₱10 billion worth of rehabilitation and improvement works at its La Mesa facilities over several years, covering completed and ongoing projects that strengthen its ability to manage changing raw water conditions as it prepares for potentially drier conditions ahead.

The major rehabilitation and improvement works cover treatment improvements, enhanced water recovery and raw water augmentation systems, additional raw water storage, and related facility upgrades. The nearly ₱10-billion amount covers completed and ongoing works.

Among the key improvements is the upgrading of La Mesa Water Treatment Plant 1 (LMTP1) from an original raw water turbidity design capability of around 300 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) to a peak design capability of 2,000 NTU. Similar improvement works are ongoing at LMTP2 to raise its treatment capability to the same level.

The enhancements significantly expand the range of raw water conditions that the facilities can manage. The Angat-Ipo system has experienced episodes of substantially higher turbidity over the years, including levels reaching around 1,800 NTU in 2012.

Maynilad has also enhanced its water recovery and raw water augmentation systems. Once all three systems are fully operational, they are designed to provide a combined recovery and augmentation capacity of approximately 125–170 million liters per day (MLD). Recovery Systems 1 and 3 are already operational, while Recovery System 2 is targeted for completion in December 2026.

Another key component is the conversion of former sludge lagoons into dedicated raw water reservoirs. Lagoons 3 and 4 currently provide approximately 133 million liters of storage, equivalent to about two-thirds of the planned 200-million-liter total capacity.

The reservoirs provide an additional operating buffer during periods of reduced Angat-Ipo inflow or adjustments in raw water allocation, giving Maynilad greater flexibility in managing available raw water during dry periods.

The La Mesa treatment plants have a combined design capacity of 2,400 MLD. LMTP1 has a design capacity of 1,500 MLD, while LMTP2 has a design capacity of 900 MLD.

Maynilad’s continuing rehabilitation and process improvements at La Mesa include enhancements to sedimentation, filtration, sludge management, monitoring and control systems, as well as the replacement of aging equipment and other facility improvements.

“We continue to invest in La Mesa because water supply resilience depends not only on how much raw water is available, but also on how efficiently we can treat, recover and manage the water already within our system,” said Maynilad Chief Operating Officer Christopher Jaime T. Lichauco.

“These improvements give us additional operating flexibility as raw water conditions change and support our continuing preparations for potentially drier conditions associated with El Niño,” he added.

The La Mesa improvements support Maynilad’s broader water supply resilience strategy, alongside the development of alternative sources, continued reduction of non-revenue water, additional storage, and improvements to its distribution network.

Maynilad sustains El Niño readiness after system withstands July Angat low

by Info @Brand Zone | October 15, 2026

Photo: Maynilad’s Poblacion Water Treatment Plant in Muntinlupa City draws raw water from Laguna Lake and forms part of the company’s strengthened South system, helping diversify water sources and reduce operational reliance on Angat Dam amid El Niño. Date of Release:  October 14, 2026

West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) continues to strengthen its El Niño preparedness even as Angat Dam has recovered from its July lows, citing reduced water losses as the primary contributor to lowering its operational reliance on Angat, complemented by source diversification, stronger treatment capability, and greater network flexibility.

Angat Dam fell to 150.42 meters in July 2026—lower than the 157.96-meter level recorded during the 2019 water crisis, when rotational water supply was implemented. This year, however, Maynilad was able to manage the lower dam level without resorting to rotational interruptions.

Angat has since recovered to above 207 meters following rains during the wet season, but Maynilad said continued preparedness remains necessary as El Niño conditions may bring below-normal rainfall and tighter raw water conditions in the coming months.

“The experience earlier this year showed why we have been investing in a more resilient water supply system,” said Maynilad Chief Operating Officer Christopher Jaime T. Lichauco. “When Angat dropped below its 2019 level, we had more tools available to manage the situation—from lower water losses and alternative sources to stronger treatment capability and greater network flexibility. We are continuing these measures as El Niño conditions persist and we prepare for potentially drier months ahead.”

The biggest contributor to reducing Maynilad’s operational reliance on Angat has been its intensified Non-Revenue Water (NRW) reduction program, which allows more of the water already available in the system to reach customers and reduces the need for additional raw water supply. As of June 2026, the company had reduced daily water losses by more than 150 million liters per day compared with June 2025, making more water available for distribution to customers.

Maynilad has also progressively diversified its water sources through Laguna Lake, deep wells, modular treatment plants, and NEW WATER facilities. Based on treatment capacity, Angat now accounts for about 83% of Maynilad’s supply capacity, compared with 100% historically.

The company has likewise strengthened its South system, particularly its Laguna Lake-based facilities, through treatment and process improvements designed to make alternative supply more reliable under changing raw water quality conditions. These investments provide added flexibility in managing available supply across the network when Angat becomes constrained.

Maynilad said it will continue to monitor source conditions, optimize available supply, and coordinate with government agencies on water allocation and supply management as El Niño conditions persist.

“Improved dam levels give us more buffer, but we continue to prepare because El Niño can still affect rainfall and raw water availability in the coming months,” Lichauco said. “Our objective is to keep strengthening the system so we can manage changing conditions while protecting service reliability for our customers.”

Maynilad also encouraged customers to continue using water responsibly and to report visible leaks or illegal connections.

Maynilad offers desludging services this October

by Info @Brand Zone | October 13, 2026

Date of release: October 13, 2026

West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) is offering septic tank cleaning services to its residential and semi-business customers this October in select parts of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Manila, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, Valenzuela, and Cavite Province at no extra cost.

Maynilad’s sanitation program is one of the company’s efforts to lessen pollution loading into Metro Manila’s river systems. “We ask our customers to avail of this service, as it will help to protect community health and the environment,” said Engr. Zmel Grabillo, Maynilad’s Head of Wastewater Management.

Customers residing in Barangay 80, 89, 138, 139,142 to 146, 148, 149, 151, 160, and 162 in Caloocan; Brgy. Almanza I, Manuyo II, Pamplona 1, Pamplona III, Pillar Village, Pulang Lupa I, Pulang Lupa II, Talon I, and Talon II in Las Piñas; Brgy. Port Area, Quiapo, San Miguel, San Nicolas, Sta. Cruz, and Sta. Mesa in Manila; Brgy. Don Carlos, Maricaban, Pildera 1, San Rafael, and San Roque in Pasay; Brgy. Cupang in Muntinlupa; Brgy. Don Galo, San Martin de Porres, Sun Valley, and Tambo in Parañaque; Brgy. Commonwealth, Nagkaisang Nayon, Paltok, Payatas, Salvacion, San Antonio, San Bartolome, San Isidro, Sta. Lucia, Sta. Monica, and Sto. Niño in Quezon City; and Brgy. Dalandanan, Isla, Mabolo, Malinta, Maysan, Parada, Pasolo, Poblacion, Polo, Rincon, and Tagalag in Valenzuela may avail of Maynilad’s desludging service. 

Moreover, some Maynilad customers in Cavite Province, particularly Brgy. Aniban II, Habay I, Kaingin, Ligas II, Ligas III, Mabolo II, Mabolo III, Maliksi II, Maliksi III, Mambog II to Mambog IV, Malino III, Real I, Real II, Salinas I, San Nicolas III, and Sineguelasan in Bacoor City; Brgy. Anabu I-C, Bayan Luma II, Malagasanag II-A, Malagasang II-B, Malagasang II-D, Malagasang II-F, Tanzang Luma I to Tanzang Luma VI, Toclong I-A, and Toclong I-B in Imus City may avail of the company’s septic tank cleaning services at no extra cost. Septic tank cleaning service normally costs around Php 4,700 per truck.

Maynilad customers interested in availing of the company’s septic tank cleaning service may call the Maynilad Hotline 1626 to determine the requirements and procedures. Additional information is also available in the company’s website, www.mayniladwater.com.ph, and social media accounts (X: @maynilad, Facebook: /MayniladWater).

Maynilad operates the largest water concession by population served within a single concession area in the Philippines. It is a concessionaire 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 Super Highway), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon, all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the municipalities of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite Province.