Maynilad Water Services’ (Maynilad) veteran engineer is bringing artificial intelligence into the trenches as the utility ramps up efforts to detect and reduce non-revenue water (NRW) across its network.
Maynilad’s Central NRW Management Division head Ryan B. Jamora, shared how AI is transforming the way the utility hunts for leaks and secures water efficiency gains across Metro Manila.
Smarter Leak Detection
“In October 2023, we launched a pilot test of an AI system to help us identify segments of our water network most prone to leaks,” Jamora said.
The technology, developed by Infrawise under Portuguese firm AGS, processes a wide range of data from Maynilad’s network—pipe age, material, repair history—and uses machine learning to flag areas at high risk of failure.
Instead of inspecting entire stretches of pipeline, the AI helps narrow the scope to specific zones with higher chances of leaks.
“So if we were supposed to inspect three kilometers, now we can just focus on 500 meters to a kilometer. It has significantly improved our efficiency,” Jamora explained.
Widening the Net on Water Leaks
The initial pilot covered 750 meters of pipe and resulted in the detection of up to 2,000 leaks.
Encouraged by the results, Maynilad expanded the system’s coverage to an additional 1,500 kilometers across its network. So far, AI-supported leak detection now covers roughly 2,250 kilometers, around one-third of Maynilad’s total smaller-diameter pipeline network.
“This is not yet the entire system, but we’ve prioritized areas with the highest NRW,” said Jamora, pointing to zones in Manila, Caloocan, Quezon City, Valenzuela, and others.
“We include funding for technology pilots like this in our business plan, so we can keep exploring new tools that improve operations,” he added.
Benefits Beyond the Bottom Line
The operational gains are clear, teams spend less time on low-risk areas and more time fixing real leaks. The bigger benefit is water saved and rerouted to communities that need it most.
“We’re able to contribute directly to accelerating NRW reduction. Every drop we save from leaks can go to customers who need it, especially crucial during dry spells or El Niño conditions,” Jamora said.
Maynilad’s NRW rate has dropped significantly over the years, from a staggering 66 percent in the mid-2000s to 36 percent as of March 2025.
This means one-third of water once lost to leaks and inefficiencies is now back in the supply pipeline, helping stabilize service coverage.
While the AI tool is now a mainstay in Maynilad’s NRW strategy, the company is actively scouting additional technologies, especially for leak detection.
Decades of Insight
A civil engineer by training, Jamora graduated from New Era University and later earned a diploma in water resources from the University of the Philippines.
Jamora himself is a product of Maynilad’s long-running cadet engineering program, having joined the utility in 2002.
Over 22 years later, he still credits that early exposure to the company’s full operations for shaping his strategic mindset.
“The cadetship gave me a broader view of how everything fits together, and that has helped guide our work on NRW ever since,” he said.
Outside of work, Jamora balances his leadership role with family life. He lives in Quezon City with his wife and their three children.
For personal downtime, Jamora turns to fitness to recharge. “I used to play a lot of basketball, but I had to slow down because of my knees,” he shared with a laugh. “Running works for me.”
In many ways, his story mirrors the utility he helps run—grounded, constantly adapting, and always moving forward.
