Maynilad Water Services, Inc., the company that provides water to many parts of Metro Manila and Cavite, is getting ready for possible water shortages as the water level in Angat Dam continues to go down because of El Niño (a weather pattern that brings less rain and hotter temperatures).

According to a media release dated July 1, 2026, Maynilad says the water supply in their service area is still stable right now. They are working together with several government agencies like the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), National Water Resources Board, PAGASA (the weather bureau), and others to watch the water situation closely.

What is Maynilad doing to prepare?

Christopher Jaime T. Lichauco, Maynilad’s Chief Operating Officer (the person in charge of daily operations), explained that the company learned important lessons from the 2019 El Niño episode when Angat Dam reached its lowest level ever recorded.

“The Maynilad system today has more buffers than it had in 2019,” Lichauco said. Think of “buffers” like backup plans or extra safety measures.

What are these backup plans?

More water sources: While Angat Dam is still their main source of water, Maynilad now has treatment plants that can clean water from Laguna Lake. These three plants (Putatan 1 and 2, and Poblacion) can produce 450 million liters of water per day combined – that’s like filling 180 Olympic-sized swimming pools every day!

Bigger treatment capacity: Since 2019, Maynilad increased how much water they can clean and treat each day from 2,700 million liters to 2,873 million liters – an increase of 173 million liters per day.

NEW WATER program: This is a special technology that takes used water (after it’s been treated), cleans it even more using advanced filters and processes, and turns it into safe drinking water. Maynilad already has these facilities in Parañaque and Valenzuela, and plans to open another one in Pasay in 2026 that can produce 12 million liters per day.

More storage tanks: Maynilad added 88 million liters of storage capacity since 2019, going from 692 million liters to 780 million liters. They’re building two more big reservoirs (the Parada Reservoir and La Mesa raw water reservoir) that should be finished in 2026, which would bring total storage to 1,020 million liters.

Reducing wasted water

Another important part of Maynilad’s preparation is reducing “Non-Revenue Water” or NRW. This is water that gets lost through leaks in pipes, broken meters, or illegal connections – basically water that doesn’t reach customers’ homes.

As of the first quarter of 2026, Maynilad reduced their NRW to 32.0% on average, with a period-end rate of 30.7%. In 2025 alone, they recovered 256 million liters per day by fixing leaks, replacing old pipes, and managing the water network better. That’s like saving the water from one and a half major water treatment plants!

Emergency support ready

If some areas experience low water pressure or temporary water interruptions, Maynilad has mobile water tankers (trucks carrying water) and stationary water tanks ready to bring water to affected communities.

Maynilad also asked customers to help by using water responsibly, fixing leaks in their homes, and reporting any street leaks or illegal water connections they see.

About Maynilad

Maynilad operates the largest water concession by population served in the Philippines. They serve the West Zone of Greater Manila, which includes parts of Manila, Quezon City, and the cities of Makati (west side), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, and Malabon in Metro Manila, plus several cities and towns in Cavite Province.

This article is based on the company’s official press release and disclosures filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange’s Electronic Disclosure Generation Technology (PSE EDGE) system. For the complete and official version of the announcement, readers may visit the PSE EDGE website and search for the company’s filing directly.