THE Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) is a regulatory agency responsible for overseeing the water supply and sewerage services in the Metropolitan Manila area. It is a government-owned and -controlled corporation tasked with ensuring the provision of safe and reliable water to the customers of its water concessionaires.

One of the important functions of MWSS is the regulation and oversight of the water and sewerage services provided by the two concessionaires, Manila Water Co. Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. MWSS is presumably tasked to ensure that these companies comply with their concession agreements and meet their obligations to deliver efficient and reliable water and sewerage services to the public. But, do they?