Xylem Joins U.S. Water Partnership To Commemorate World Water Day 2014

Company recognized by Partnership for developing small-scale affordable irrigation system for subsistence farmers

Rye Brook, NY - Xylem Inc. (NYSE: XYL), a leading global water technology company dedicated to solving the world’s most challenging water issues, announced today that it has joined the U.S. Water Partnership (USWP).  The public-private partnership was launched on World Water Day 2012 by former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and  seeks to mobilize U.S.-based knowledge, expertise and resources to improve water security around the world – particularly in those countries most in need.

Xylem’s inclusion in the USWP comes in time for World Water Day 2014, the annual global commemoration of responsible water management and water stewardship.  In joining the Partnership, Xylem will continue to develop its work with public and private sector partners on resilience to water-related risks. 

“The U.S. Water Partnership provides a unique platform for cooperation with government agencies, foundations and like-minded companies on the world’s most critical water challenges,” said Albert Cho, vice president of strategy and business development at Xylem. “For more than six years we have worked successfully with global non-profit partners in the water sector through our corporate citizenship and social investment program Xylem Watermark, and we look forward to working with our new partners on technology-based initiatives to build resilience in flood- and drought-prone cities around the world.”

As part of the U.S. government’s World Water Day celebrations, Xylem’s Essence of Life program will be recognized for developing the Saajhi™ stepping pump at the State Department’s World Water Day Technology Showcase, USTechH2.0, in Washington, D.C. today.  The manual pump was designed specifically for the 1.5 billion subsistence farmers worldwide who need proper irrigation equipment, including water pumps, to maximize their yield-to-land ratios and elevate their farming operations to realize greater prosperity. The pump is the first product launched in Xylem’s Essence of Life portfolio, which focuses on building sustainable business models to support enterprise development in rural communities.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the Partnership for Xylem’s Saajhi stepping pump, a unique product with the potential to enhance the lives of millions of farmers in Asia, Africa and South America,” said Keith Teichmann, director of innovative networks and marketing for Xylem. “There is enormous need for and enormous economic potential in affordable, small-scale irrigation systems such as this across the developing world.”

Xylem Watermark is the company’s global corporate citizenship and social investment program that provides and protects safe water resources for vulnerable communities around the world.

About Xylem

Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology provider, enabling customers to transport, treat, test and efficiently use water in public utility, residential and commercial building services, industrial and agricultural settings. The company does business in more than 150 countries through a number of market-leading product brands, and its people bring broad applications expertise with a strong focus on finding local solutions to the world’s most challenging water and wastewater problems. Xylem is headquartered in Rye Brook, N.Y., with 2013 revenues of $3.8 billion and more than 12,500 employees worldwide. Xylem was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the last two years for advancing sustainable business practices and solutions worldwide.

The name Xylem is derived from classical Greek and is the tissue that transports water in plants, highlighting the engineering efficiency of our water-centric business by linking it with the best water transportation of all -- that which occurs in nature. For more information, please visit us at www.xylem.com.

To learn more about Xylem Watermark, please visit www.xylemwatermark.com.

See the Saajhi in action, featured in Water Online's "top technologies" report from WEFTEC.