VIA GRAPHIC PLUS — A delegation composed of representatives from the Government of India, the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) India Resident Mission, and ADB Headquarters recently visited Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) to study the company’s non-revenue water (NRW) management and leak detection practices.
Led by Saurabh Singh, Deputy Secretary of India’s Department of Economic Affairs, the delegation participated in technical sessions and field demonstrations facilitated by the Maynilad Water Academy (MWA).
ADB cited Maynilad’s approach to NRW reduction as a useful reference for its capacity-building initiatives, noting how the utility combines field operations, monitoring systems, workforce training, and operational accountability.
During the visit, participants were introduced to Maynilad’s broader approach to NRW management, including field-based acoustic leak detection, centralized monitoring through the company’s Central Control Room, workforce development, and operational accountability systems. The delegation also observed how NRW reduction activities are implemented on the ground within Maynilad’s service area.
According to ADB, the visit can pave the way for efforts to help utilities in South Asia learn from operational models that have been applied in large urban water systems facing persistent water losses and service reliability challenges.
ADB and the Maynilad Water Academy have partnered for several years on capacity-building initiatives, including technical training programs, learning sessions, and study visits for water utilities across the region.
The visit also opened discussions on possible follow-up initiatives, including technical exchanges, peer learning activities, and opportunities to share elements of MWA’s training approach with utilities in India and other ADB member countries.
“Many utilities face similar challenges with water losses, but sustained NRW reduction requires more than equipment. It requires trained personnel, consistent field execution, and operational systems that support fast detection and response,” said Edmundo M. Perez II, Officer-in-Charge of the Maynilad Water Academy.
MWA combines classroom instruction with field-based application to train utility personnel on water operations, leak detection, and NRW management practices.
 India Resident Mission, and ADB Headquarters recently visited Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) to study the company’s non-revenue water (NRW) management and leak detection practices.){kind=link}