Couplings help cut water losses

Viking Johnson's MaxiFit pipe couplings are playing a part in the repair and expansion of Manila's water distribution system, which has been described as "the world's biggest water privatisation".

Viking Johnson's market-leading MaxiFit pipe couplings are playing a part in the repair and expansion of Manila's water distribution system, which has been described as "the world's biggest water privatisation".

Successful "e-bidding" by local distributor OSP secured a contract to supply Maxifit and other couplings for the Eastern Zone of the system, which is operated by the Manila Water Company.

Around 6000 fittings have been supplied to date As part of the deal, OSP travelled to Viking Johnson's UK headquarters for training and a site visit.

Designed for use with plain-ended pipes, MaxiFit can accommodate different outside diameters and connect all common pipe materials - steel, ductile and cast iron, PVCu and asbestos cement.

As such, it is well suited to repairing the many different pipe materials encountered in Metro Manila.

When the Philippines government decided in 1997 to denationalise the water distribution system in the densely populated centre of the capital city, the two private companies that took on the task faced a daunting challenge.

Less than two-thirds of the 11 million population had a piped supply - usually for only 16 hours a day and at a very low pressure - and more than half the water in the system leaked away or was taken by illegal connection.

In the Eastern Zone, many of the gaps in the network have been bridged by laying of new mains, and extensive rehabilitation has reduced nonrevenue water by 14%.

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