AIDFI Chief Executive Officer Auke Idzenga and MWD General Manager Winston M. Makilan (3rd and 2nd from left) during the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement in the presence of AIDFI project consultant Butch Bacaoco and MWD Admin, Commercial and Finance Manager Renelyn N. Jardin.*
The Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc. (AIDFI) and the Murcia Water District (MWD) have embarked on a two-year collaborative program to study and properly manage the water district’s non-revenue water (NRW) losses.
The program is funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation, in line with its mother company’s commitment to help ensure water sufficiency and safety for future generations, a press release from the Murcia municipal government said.
Under the agreement, AIDFI will assist the MWD in developing a comprehensive and holistic program for the management of non-revenue water (NRW), the operational losses incurred by a water district in delivering water to its consumers, and is derived as the difference between the volume of water produced by the water district and the volume of water delivered to the consumers, it said.
The program involves a fully-paid training-workshop at the Maynilad Water Academy, assessment of MWD water distribution infrastructure with the use of the latest leak-detection technology, household survey on water management and conservation, and the preparation of a comprehensive NRW Management Plan.
The program also includes the provision of some recommended equipment and supplies to achieve the goals set in the NRW Management Plan, the press release said.
Through a comprehensive NRW Management Plan, MWD could properly manage and minimize its NRW losses, translating to more volume of water available to more consumers, more revenues for the water district, and improved services to the consumers, it said.
AIDFI co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Auke Idzenga and MWD General Manager Winston M. Makilan signed the Memorandum of Agreement on April 29 at the water district’s office.
Signing as witnesses were AIDFI project consultant Butch Bacaoco and MWD Admin, Commercial and Finance Manager Renelyn N. Jardin.
Also present during the event were AIDFI Chief Operating Officer Che Idzenga, HR and Administrative Manager Hedeliza Vasquez, Operations Manager Cherie Gomez and project consultant Butch Bacaoco, and MWD Senior Engr. Lean Arriesgado.
On March 6 AIDFI also signed a similar MOA with the E. B. Magalona Water Works, represented by Mayor Marvin Malacon. The EB Magalona Water Works and the Murcia Water District will be AIDFI’s pioneer partners in this pioneering collaborative water management program funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation, the press release said.*