MANILA, Philippines?As the water situation in Metro Manila takes a turn for the worse, the public is left asking why east zone concessionaire Manila Water Co. can provide a more stable water supply compared with its counterpart in the west zone, Maynilad Water Services Inc.

Officials from the water concessionaires said the defining factor would be nonrevenue water (NRW) levels or lost water, which the Ayala-led Manila Water has managed to bring down to 13 percent from 63 percent, since it took over the concession in August 1997.

Maynilad?s NRW level remains at a staggering 53 percent, which means that more than half of the volume of the water allocation it receives from Angat Dam is lost to leaks and pilferage.

Maynilad said the public should not be hasty in criticizing the management of DMCI Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), which took over the Maynilad concession only in 2006.

Compared with the DMCI-MPIC group, the owners of the Manila Water concession has a 13-year head start in implementing capital projects and improving its distribution network.

It was in 1997 that the government privatized the operation of the water network to the private sector.

The Ayala group bagged the 25-year concession agreement that started in August 1997 for Manila Water, while the partnership of Lopez-led Benpres Holdings Corp. (Benpres) and Ondeo Water Services Inc. (formerly Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux) was awarded to run the water and wastewater operations in the west zone.

Manila Water covers Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Marikina, San Juan, most parts of Quezon City, some parts of Manila, Taguig and Pateros. It also covers cities and municipalities in Rizal province further east of Metro Manila.

Maynilad covers Manila (except San Andres and Sta. Ana), parts of Quezon City, Makati, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, Malabon, Cavite City and some towns of Cavite province.