Brandi Bentley-Brown Of Rimrock, Arizona, Receives New Water Well And Pump Courtesy Of HometownH2O Collaboration

Xylem, Chris Long Foundation and Water Well Trust partner to further awareness of rural water access challenges

Brandi Bentley-Brown of Rimrock, Arizona, received a new water well system on her property this week that will provide dependable water access, something the household has been living without for six years. Made possible through a collaborative effort between Xylem Inc., the Water Well Trust (WWT) and Waterboys – a charity initiative founded by two-time Super Bowl Champion, Chris Long – this installation and subsequent donation covered all aspects of the project, including necessary equipment, well drilling and installation, as well as completion of home improvement projects. Local partners Karam Brothers and Northern Arizona Pump played a crucial role in the installation, while The Vinyl Institute provided PVC piping material.

"What drives me to do this work is knowing that I can help people solve their water problems. In Brandi’s case, her family had been without reliable water for six years, which is unimaginable,” said Nathan White, Owner and Operator, Northern Arizona Pump. “When Goulds Water Technology reached out and brought us in, we were more than happy to help. We've been drilling in this area for over 50 years, so it’s great to be able to give back to the community in this way. For us, being able to restore access to clean, dependable water is more rewarding than anything else."

Bentley-Brown has lived on her Rimrock property since 2017 with her husband, Tai, and her son, Drake. Since the shared well serving their home and five other households went dry in 2018, Bentley-Brown and her family have had to haul water daily, adding to their challenges without a reliable water source. Despite managing mast cell activation syndrome, BentleyBrown has been working extra shifts to help make ends meet. Along with addressing her own health, she cares for her mother, who is battling terminal cancer, and assists in raising her three nephews, whom she plans to welcome into her home in the future. Additionally, her son is undergoing medical treatment, which adds to the strain of the family’s expenses.

"This well is truly life-changing for us," said Brandi Bentley-Brown. "We’ve spent so much time and effort just trying to get by without reliable water—hauling jugs, borrowing trailers and depending on friends to shower or do laundry. It’s been exhausting, but it also made me realize how fortunate we are to have that support. This well means so much more than water—it’s stability, relief and a huge weight lifted off our shoulders."

“Partnering with Xylem and the Water Well Trust to bring clean water to families like Brandi's is what HometownH2O is all about,” said 2018 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner Chris Long. “This project marks our 20th milestone together, and we’re proud to continue making a difference for families who’ve gone too long without reliable water access.”

This donation marks the 20th collaborative project for Xylem, WWT and HometownH2O – a domestic water initiative dedicated to bringing clean, sustainable water to people and communities in need across the United States. Launched in early 2020, HometownH2O is a united effort between Long, his Foundation’s Waterboys initiative and Xylem to address water scarcity issues, which currently leave more than 2.2 million Americans without access to clean water. HometownH2O works alongside WWT, a national nonprofit that helps fund and supply water to low-income families.

“We’re honored to support Brandi and her family with a reliable source of clean water through our HometownH2O initiative,” said Susan O’Grady, senior director of marketing, building services and agriculture, Xylem. “Access to water is essential, yet too many families in rural areas still face significant challenges. With our partners, we’re not only helping to solve immediate water access issues, but also raising awareness about the ongoing water crisis in communities across the country.”

Xylem, in conjunction with its Goulds Water Technology brand, is engaged in regular water well initiatives to provide secure water access to rural areas, striving to increase public awareness of the challenges surrounding lack of water access. For more information about the HometownH2O project, visit waterboys.org/hometown.

About Xylem
Xylem (XYL) is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company that empowers customers and communities to build a more water-secure world. Our 23,000 diverse employees delivered combined pro forma revenue of $8.1B in 2023, optimizing water and resource management with innovation and expertise. For more information, visit www.xylem.com.

About Xylem Watermark
Xylem Watermark, the Company’s corporate citizenship program, was initiated in 2008, with a focus on protecting and providing safe water resources around the world and also educating people on water-related issues. The global initiative, which encompasses employee and stakeholder engagement, provides access to clean drinking water and sanitation, and humanitarian emergency response to help communities become more water-secure and sustainable.

About the Chris Long Foundation and Waterboys
The Chris Long Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded by two-time Super Bowl Champion and 2018 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award winner, Chris Long. We mobilize champions, service providers, and experts to help communities access clean water, address basic needs for youth and families, and inspire others to make an impact at home and abroad. Our vision is access and opportunity everywhere. To date, the Waterboys initiative has provided clean water to over 570,000 people in need. HometownH2O is a program of the Chris Long Foundation. For more information, visit chrislongfoundation.org and waterboys.org.

About Water Well Trust
The Water Well Trust (WWT) is a 501(c)3 organization created by the Water Systems Council to provide a clean water supply to American families living without access to a precious resource most of us take for granted. We serve Americans living primarily in rural, unincorporated areas or minority communities that may be isolated and difficult to reach. We assist low-income families who live in areas where the extension of public water supplies to serve them doesn’t make economic sense…for them, for the public water supply owners, for federal, state or local funding sources.