Water losses in urban systems usually rise as cities expand, yet Manila Water has moved in the opposite direction. In 2025, the Razon’s-led utility reported a year-end non-revenue water (NRW) rate of 13.55 percent for its East Zone concession.
This figure remains among the lowest in Asia even as the company continued to extend and upgrade its network. The result signals both operational control and system reliability at scale.
NRW refers to water that is produced but never billed because of leaks, illegal connections, or faulty meters. Manila Water’s full-year average NRW stood at 14.27 percent, showing that performance was steady rather than incidental. Although the year-end rate edged slightly higher than before, it still sits well below regional and global benchmarks for comparable utilities.
Accordingly, the company framed this outcome in terms of concrete supply gains. Manila Water estimates that every one-percentage-point reduction in NRW preserves about 15 million liters of water per day. That recovered volume is redirected to fast-growing areas in eastern Metro Manila and parts of Rizal, where demand continues to rise.
Meanwhile, the company has paired results with structural upgrades. Manila Water has been replacing aging pipes and meters, optimizing water pressure, and intensively monitoring district metered areas to detect irregularities early. It has also deployed digital tools to shorten response times to leaks, limiting losses before repairs are completed.
Furthermore, management ties these measures directly to service stability. Communications director Jeric Sevilla said that keeping NRW low ensures more of the water produced actually reaches households.
He added that every liter saved strengthens the distribution system and supports continuous 24/7 supply for millions of customers.
