HometownH₂O Collaboration Upgrades Newark Family's Water Access With Comprehensive Well Transformation

Xylem, Chris Long Foundation’s Waterboys initiative and Water Well Trust partner to ensure reliable water supply for local Richards family

Brett, Paula and their son, Chaz Richards will have secure access to safe and reliable water, thanks to a recent collaborative effort between Xylem Inc., the Water Well Trust (WWT) and Waterboys – a charity initiative founded by two-time Super Bowl Champion, Chris Long. As part of the project, the family received a comprehensive upgrade, including all necessary equipment and installation required for drilling a new well and building a pump house. Additionally, project partners worked to update the property with fresh mulch and a new coat of paint. Donations from local distributor Warren Pump & Supply Co., well driller and pump installer Mount Water Well Drilling, as well as The Vinyl Institute who donated PVC piping material, rounded out the project and were instrumental to its success.

“We’ve known the Richards family for years and I’m glad we can help them during this challenging time. Our goal is to ensure they have plenty of good, clean water in their home, so they won’t have to worry about water issues anymore,” said Todd Mount, Mount Water Well Drilling. “I think this project will be a blessing for their family, and it’s a blessing for us to be able to help. One of the things I love about this business is that we're always helping someone get good water in their house, no matter what the situation is – that's what we do.”

Since 2008, the Richards family has faced severe water shortages due to a low water supply in their well and an outdated casing. Plans to replace the defective well were put on hold due to unexpected medical issues for both Brett and Paula. This left the family struggling with basic needs, limiting showers to just three minutes, not using their washer for five years and barely using the tap. As the water supply continued to worsen, caring for up to four foster children became increasingly challenging, with even flushing the toilet becoming an issue at times.

"Our family has struggled with low water resources for years, adapting to a lifestyle that many wouldn't imagine—from taking quick, military-style showers to timing our laundry days carefully. When we got the call about this project moving forward, it was an incredible blessing,” said Brett Richards, Water Well Trust beneficiary. “The thought of finally being able to turn on the water and enjoy a proper shower or even consider a garden in the future is overwhelming. We're truly grateful for this opportunity to improve our daily lives."

“Providing clean, reliable water to families like the Richards is at the heart of what we do. Every family deserves the peace of mind that comes with knowing they have sustainable safe water in their home, and we’re honored to be a part of making that a reality,” said Chris Long, 2018 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner and founder of the Chris Long Foundation.

The Richards family's well upgrade marks the 19th HometownH2O project, an extension of the Chris Long Foundation’s domestic water initiative working alongside WWT and Xylem to provide clean, sustainable water to communities in need. Water scarcity issues currently leave more than 2.2 million Americans without access to clean water, making this joint effort between Long, his Foundation’s Waterboys initiative and Xylem a vital resource for families across the country.

“We are incredibly proud to be part of this impactful initiative for the Richards family. By providing them with a new well and pump house, we’ve been able to address their critical water needs and offer a renewed sense of stability,” said Susan O’Grady, senior director of marketing, building services and agriculture, Xylem. “This project exemplifies our commitment to delivering innovative water solutions and underscores the significant impact that secure access to clean water can have on a family’s quality of life.”

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 Chris Long Foundation’s HometownH_²O projects, 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 and Let’s Solve Water.

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, 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.