New Hampshire student wins U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize; will participate in international competition

Winner Deepika Kurup’s project examined methodology to develop innovative technique for wastewater purification

RYE BROOK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 16, 2014-- Xylem Inc. (NYSE:XYL), a leading global water technology company dedicated to solving the world’s most challenging water issues, congratulates Deepika Kurup of Nashua, New Hampshire, as the 2014 winner of the United States Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) – the world’s most prestigious youth award for water-related science and technology projects.

Kurup’s project, “A Novel Photocatalytic Pervious Composite for Degrading Organics and Inactivating Bacteria in Wastewater,” focused on developing a safe, cost-effective, and eco-friendly technique for wastewater purification. The project received the top honor out of the 50 state entries at the national competition held in Herndon, Virginia, June 13-14. In September, Kurup will represent the United States at the International Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition in Stockholm, Sweden, where she will compete against 30 other students from around the world.

Kurup will receive a $10,000 scholarship and her school will receive a $1,000 grant toward enhancing water science education.

Xylem has been a sponsor of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize for the past 16 years and was a leading voice in its creation. Through its corporate citizenship and social investment program, Xylem Watermark, Xylem is working to build awareness and demand for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and careers, particularly in the field of water technology.

“Social impact through innovation is a cornerstone of Xylem Watermark and we remain committed to provide and protect safe water resources for the most vulnerable communities,” said Michael C. Fields, director of corporate citizenship and social responsibility at Xylem. “As a supporter of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, we continue to be inspired by the curiosity and imagination of the next generation of water solvers.”

Jack Andraka and Chloe Diggs of Maryland were also recognized as the winners of the 2014 Bjorn von Euler Innovation in Water Scholarship Award. The $1,000 scholarship recognizes projects that demonstrate a unique passion for education and awareness of sustainable water management. It honors the work of former Water Environment Federation (WEF) board member and retired Xylem Watermark Director Bjorn von Euler. The winners’ project, entitled ‘A Novel Microfluidic Biosensor for Environmental Contaminants PLUS Development and Optimization of an Ultra-Inexpensive Plastic Water Filter to Remediate Water Pollution Sustainably,” examined the creation of a microfluidic biosensor and inexpensive water filters to help solve the worldwide lack of safe drinking water due to contaminants such as heavy metals and pesticides.

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, New York, 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.

Source: Xylem Inc.

Xylem Inc.
Jennifer Jacob, +1 (914) 323-5745
jennifer.jacob@xyleminc.com