Manila Water
Manila Water is a publicly listed Philippine water utility operating the MWSS East Zone concession, providing water treatment, distribution, and wastewater services to over 7.9 million customers across 24 cities and municipalities in Metro Manila and Rizal Province.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersQuezon City, Philippines
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Manila Water does
Manila Water Company, Inc. is a publicly listed Philippine water utility (PSE ticker: MWC; OTC pink: MWTCF) incorporated in 1997 and operating under an exclusive concession from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for the East Zone of Metro Manila and the Province of Rizal. The company provides water treatment, water distribution, and wastewater/sanitation services to over 7.9 million customers across 24 cities and municipalities spanning 1,400 square kilometers, delivering regulated, usage-based monthly tariffs under a concession extended to 2037 and reinforced by a 25-year legislative franchise (Republic Act No. 11601) effective January 25, 2022. The technology platform comprises multiple treatment plants (Balara, East La Mesa, East Bay Phase 1), the Upper Wawa Dam (710 MLD), and an integrated distribution network that has reduced non-revenue water from 63% to an average of 13% and maintained near-100% availability in the central distribution system even during severe El Niño conditions.
The company monetizes through usage-based regulated water tariffs (residential, semi-business, commercial, and industrial customers) plus ancillary services including desludging, B2B water and wastewater, and Estate Water operations for Ayala Land townships. The business is operated through two principal holding arms: Manila Water Philippine Ventures (MWPV) covering domestic bulk water, water distribution, and wastewater subsidiaries in Boracay, Clark, Laguna, Cebu, Davao, and elsewhere, and Manila Water Asia Pacific (MWAP) for international ventures in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia (the latter via a 7-year Management, Operation and Maintenance Contract with NWC). Capital allocation emphasizes infrastructure modernization: the Php 2.7 billion East Bay Phase 1 Water Treatment Plant (50 MLD, drawing from Laguna Lake via DAF, activated carbon, and reverse osmosis) was physically completed in 2024 and commissioned in 2025, and the East La Mesa Treatment Plant is targeted for full completion by end-2026. Trident Water is the controlling shareholder (52.16%), with Philwater Holdings (19.01%) and Ayala Corporation (12.26%) as substantial shareholders; the company is part of Enrique "Ricky" Razon Jr.'s diversified portfolio.
Manila Water firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Manila Water
- Legal name
- Manila Water Company, Inc.
- Website
- https://manilawater.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Manila Water is a publicly listed Philippine water utility operating the MWSS East Zone concession, providing water treatment, distribution, and wastewater services to over 7.9 million customers across 24 cities and municipalities in Metro Manila and Rizal Province.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Manila Water industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water Utility Services
- NAICS
- Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Sanitary Services (4950)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Customer Billing & Revenue Management (rate configuration, billing, adjustments, revenue assurance) (EUANAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE), Domestic Hot & Cold Water System Hygiene (Potable Water) (BPABAJAD)
Keywords
Where Manila Water is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Quezon City
- HQ country
- Philippines
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Manila Water business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Water Supply Services: Manila Water provides water treatment, water distribution, sewerage and sanitation services to residential, semi-business, commercial, and industrial customers in the East Zone under a concession agreement with MWSS and a 25-year franchise from the Philippine government.
- Wastewater and Sanitation Services: Comprehensive wastewater management and sanitation services as part of the company's integrated water utility operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Monthly | Residential, semi-business, commercial and industrial customers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Manila Water product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Manila Water Company, Inc. is a publicly listed water utility concessionaire that, under a concession agreement with MWSS and a 25-year legislative franchise, treats, distributes, and sells potable water and provides sewerage, wastewater, and sanitation services to over 7.9 million residential, semi-business, commercial, and industrial customers in the East Zone of Metro Manila and Rizal Province. Beyond the East Zone concession, the company operates domestic bulk water, distribution, and wastewater businesses through Manila Water Philippine Ventures and international water and management, operation, and maintenance contracts through Manila Water Asia Pacific in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia.
Product overview
Manila Water Company, Inc. is a publicly listed Philippine water utility providing a comprehensive water and environmental services platform. The company operates as a unified utility under a concession agreement with MWSS, serving the East Zone of Metro Manila and Rizal Province. The core portfolio consists of water supply services (delivering 24/7 potable water to over 7.9 million customers), wastewater and sanitation services, and various supporting sub-brands including Manila Water Philippine Ventures (domestic subsidiaries for bulk water, water distribution, and B2B services), Manila Water Asia Pacific (international operations in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia), WawaJVCo (Upper Wawa Dam water source), and Manila Water Infratech Solutions (technical and after-the-meter services). The company also provides a customer-facing mobile application and environmental advocacy programs including La Mesa Ecopark.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Estate Water: Operates and manages the water systems of townships developed by Ayala Land, Inc.
Products and services
- Water Supply Services Treats, distributes, and sells potable water on a 24/7 basis to over 7.9 million residential, semi-business, commercial, and industrial customers across 24 cities and municipalities in the East Zone of Metro Manila and Rizal Province under the MWSS concession.
- Wastewater and Sanitation Services Provides sewerage, wastewater management, and sanitation services to customers in the East Zone of Metro Manila and Rizal Province, including sewer collection, treatment, and disposal operations as part of Manila Water's integrated water utility mandate.
- Desludging Services Provides preventive septic tank desludging for residential and commercial customers in covered areas of the East Zone, removing accumulated sludge from septic tanks to prevent blockages, foul odors, and potential overflows, supporting proper wastewater treatment and environmental protection.
- Domestic Bulk Water Supply and Provincial Distribution Services (MWPV portfolio) Through Manila Water Philippine Ventures (MWPV), provides bulk water supply, water distribution, and wastewater services across multiple provincial franchises in the Philippines, including Boracay Island Water Company, Clark Water Corporation, Laguna AAAWater Corporation, Tagum Water Company, Metro Ilagan Water, Manila Water Consortium, and Davao del Norte Water Infrastructure Company.
- International Water Operations and Management Contracts (MWAP portfolio) Through Manila Water Asia Pacific (MWAP), delivers treated water to Saigon Water Corporation (SAWACO) under take-or-pay arrangements via Thu Duc Water B.O.O. Corporation and Kenh Dong Water Supply Joint Stock Company in Vietnam, holds a stake in Saigon Water Infrastructure Corporation, operates PT Sarana Tirta Ungaran in Indonesia, holds an associate interest in Eastern Water in Thailand, and manages the North West and Eastern Clusters of the National Water Company of Saudi Arabia via MOMC.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced non-revenue water from 63% to average of 13%
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Manila Water
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Manila Water technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Manila Water partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- WawaJVCocoreManila Water acquired WawaJVCo to take exclusive management of the Upper Wawa Dam, the largest water source development in the Philippines in five decades. The project can supply up to 710 million liters of water per day to benefit approximately 3.5 million Filipinos in the East Zone.
- Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)minorPartnership to distribute drinking water and reusable bottles to approximately 4,000 traffic enforcers during heat stroke break policy, supporting MMDA's initiatives during extreme weather conditions.
- Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS)coreMWSS granted Manila Water the concession to provide water and wastewater services to the eastern side of Metro Manila. The original 25-year concession (to expire 2022) was extended by another 15 years to 2037.
- Saigon Water Corporation (SAWACO)minorVietnam operations supplying treated water to Saigon Water Corporation (SAWACO) under a take-or-pay arrangement through affiliated companies Thu Duc Water B.O.O. Corporation and Kenh Dong Water Supply Joint Stock Company.
- National Water Company (NWC) of Saudi ArabiaminorManagement, Operation and Maintenance Contracts (MOMC) for North West and Eastern Clusters of Saudi Arabia, undertaken through consortium of Manila Water with Saur SAS and Miahona Company over a seven-year contract period.
- Ayala Land, Inc.minorEstate Water division operates and manages water systems of townships developed by Ayala Land, Inc. Beginning 2021, Estate Water also provides wastewater services to Ayala Malls.
- Eastern Water Resources Development and Management Public Company Limited (East Water)minorAssociate company in Thailand, a fully integrated water supply and distribution company listed in the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).
- PT Sarana Tirta Ungaran (PT STU)minorAssociate company in Indonesia, an industrial water supply operation.
- Saur SAS and Miahona CompanyminorConsortium partners with Manila Water for Management, Operation and Maintenance Contracts (MOMC) with the National Water Company (NWC) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Manila Water competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Essential Utilities (formerly Aqua America): US-based regulated water and natural gas utility with a growing footprint across multiple states. Comparable as a customer-billed, rate-regulated water utility with capital-intensive infrastructure investment programs.
- Veolia: Global environmental services and water utility operator with significant emerging-market concessions. Comparable to Manila Water in the regulated water utility and O&M contract segments, though with a much broader portfolio.
- Sabesp: Brazilian state-owned water and wastewater utility serving São Paulo. Comparable as a large-scale publicly listed regulated water utility in an emerging market with similar regulatory, tariff, and capex dynamics to Manila Water.
- American Water Works: Largest publicly traded US water and wastewater utility. Comparable to Manila Water as a regulated, customer-metered, rate-based water utility operator, though operating in a mature developed-market regulatory environment.
- Suez: Global water and waste management major with concession operations across emerging markets. Comparable as a large-scale water utility operator pursuing long-term PPP/utility contracts analogous to Manila Water's business model.
- Beijing Enterprises Water Group: Chinese water and environmental services company operating BOT/concession water projects across China and Southeast Asia. Comparable to Manila Water in the PPP/concession model for water supply and wastewater.
Direct peers
- Saur: French water utility operator that is Manila Water's consortium partner for the NWC Saudi Arabia MOMC contract. Saur focuses on water/wastewater concessions internationally and shares Manila Water's emerging-market PPP operating model.
- Maynilad Water Services: Concessionaire for the MWSS West Zone of Metro Manila. Most directly comparable peer to Manila Water, sharing the same concession framework, regulator, and customer base structure, but covering the opposite half of the metro.
Others
- Pennon Group: UK water utility holding company (South West Water). Comparable as a regulated water utility business model reference point, though operating in a mature UK regulatory environment rather than an emerging-market concession framework.
Regional players
- Metropolitan Cebu Water District: Government-owned water district serving Metro Cebu in the Visayas. Comparable as a Philippine water utility with similar regulatory exposure, but operates in a different geography under a different institutional structure (district vs. private concessionaire).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Manila Water social profiles
Digital presenceManila Water financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Manila Water leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Manila Water subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries15 records
Manila Water funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Manila Water M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Manila Water
What does Manila Water do?
Manila Water Company, Inc. is a publicly listed water utility concessionaire that, under a concession agreement with MWSS and a 25-year legislative franchise, treats, distributes, and sells potable water and provides sewerage, wastewater, and sanitation services to over 7.9 million residential, semi-business, commercial, and industrial customers in the East Zone of Metro Manila and Rizal Province. Beyond the East Zone concession, the company operates domestic bulk water, distribution, and wastewater businesses through Manila Water Philippine Ventures and international water and management, operation, and maintenance contracts through Manila Water Asia Pacific in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia.
Is Manila Water a public or private company?
Manila Water is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Manila Water founded?
Manila Water was founded in 1997. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Manila Water based?
Manila Water is headquartered in Quezon City, Philippines, in the Asia region.
How does Manila Water make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Water Supply Services are the primary driver. The others are wastewater and Sanitation Services.
Who are Manila Water's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Essential Utilities (formerly Aqua America), Veolia, Sabesp, American Water Works, Suez and Beijing Enterprises Water Group. Direct peers are Saur and Maynilad Water Services. Pennon Group is listed as an others. Metropolitan Cebu Water District is listed as a regional player.
Does Manila Water have an API?
No public API is recorded for Manila Water.
What industry is Manila Water in?
Manila Water's product category is Water Utility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUANAIAC, Customer Billing & Revenue Management (rate configuration, billing, adjustments, revenue assurance), with a secondary code of BPAIAMAE, Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater). Its NAICS code is 22131 and its SIC code is 4941.