Press Release

Xylem celebrates World Water Day across the globe with launch of month-long employee volunteer challenge

March 22, 2017

Xylem’s 'Make Your Mark 30-Day Challenge' aims to highlight the importance of water and environmental issues through water-related community activities

RYE BROOK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 22, 2017-- In celebration of World Water Day, Xylem Inc. (NYSE:XYL) is launching a month-long volunteer challenge for Xylem colleagues across the globe to highlight the importance of water and environmental issues. Starting today and extending through to Earth Day (April 22), the ‘Make Your Mark 30-Day Challenge’ is an initiative of Xylem Watermark, the Company’s corporate citizenship program, through which Xylem colleagues will be able to volunteer to participate in a range of activities to protect safe water resources and educate communities about water-related challenges.

“As the world community continues to make progress in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, World Water Day is a powerful reminder of the need for collaboration, education and innovation to advance the smarter use of water and ensure access to safe water for all by 2030,” said Patrick Decker, President and CEO of Xylem. “At Xylem, water is more than our business; it is our passion and our 16,000-strong team across the globe is driven by a shared commitment to solve urgent water challenges and deliver results that matter. Today, we are excited to celebrate this commitment with those around us.”

Colin Sabol, Xylem Senior Vice President, President Analytics and Treatment, and Chairman of the Xylem Watermark Committee added, “The ‘Make Your Mark 30-Day Challenge’ exemplifies Xylem’s culture of engagement and volunteerism, and offers meaningful opportunities for Xylem colleagues to give back to their communities by raising awareness about key resource challenges. Collaboration is at the heart of what World Water Day is all about and I am eager to see the results of our joint efforts.”

Dozens of volunteer activities will be taking place at Xylem’s locations globally. Some of the activities taking place include:

  • Planet Water Foundation’s Project24, during which Xylem colleagues will help to build 10,000 gallon water towers in Columbia, Indonesia and the Philippines to provide fresh, clean water to schools that previously did not have access to safe water and sanitation.
  • Seaton Wetlands Cleanup (Devon, UK) will help to protect the local watershed and marine ecosystem of the Seaton Wetlands.
  • Educate-to-Innovate Classroom Visits (Lemon Grove, CA), an initiative to educate students about the importance of clean water, how Xylem is involved in analyzing the quality of water, and pathways to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers.
  • Seneca Falls Water Days (Seneca Falls, NY) will explore the challenges of living with limited access to water and include a fundraising activity to build water cisterns in Argentina.
  • Watermark Lunch ‘n Learn (Vantaa, Finland) aims to raise awareness among colleagues about the global water crisis through an interactive workshop and fundraising event.

All colleagues will receive a time allowance to participate in a Watermark-sponsored volunteer activity taking place during working hours over the ‘Make Your Mark 30-Day Challenge’ period.

About Xylem

Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology company committed to developing innovative technology solutions to the world’s water challenges. The Company’s products and services move, treat, analyze, monitor and return water to the environment in public utility, industrial, residential and commercial building services, and agricultural settings. With its October 2016 acquisition of Sensus, Xylem added smart metering, network technologies and advanced data analytics for water, gas and electric utilities to its portfolio of solutions. The combined Company’s nearly 16,000 employees bring broad applications expertise with a strong focus on identifying comprehensive, sustainable solutions. Headquartered in Rye Brook, New York with 2016 revenue of $3.8 billion, Xylem does business in more than 150 countries through a number of market-leading product brands.

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.

About Xylem Watermark

Xylem Watermark, Xylem’s corporate citizenship program, provides and protects safe water resources for many of the world’s most vulnerable communities and educates individuals around the globe about water issues. This social commitment reflects Xylem’s ethos of valuing the “triple bottom-line”: financial, environmental and social. The company firmly believes in the notion of doing well by doing good, and dedicates resources to initiatives that demonstrate its commitment.

Xylem Watermark was founded in 2008 and, with its six nonprofit partners, has provided clean water and sanitation solutions to over three million people in 25 countries. Xylem launched its first Global Month of Service in October 2016 to provide a focused time to inspire employees to get involved and bring the mission of Xylem Watermark to their communities. This World Water Day, Xylem Watermark launches the Make Your Mark 30 Day Challenge to engage employees in solving global and local water issues in ways that they are passionate about.

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

Source: Xylem Inc.

Deirdre Connolly for Xylem
Tel: +353 85 244 9804
deirdre.connolly@edelman.com