Xylem Inc. rang the New York Stock Exchange opening bell to mark its spinoff from ITT Corporation. That same day, children and families in the rural community of Madhugiri, India also celebrated.
In honor of the launch of the new company, Xylem Watermark, Xylem's corporate citizenship and social investment program, partnered with Planet Water Foundation to install two water towers that will deliver clean water to thousands of people in Madhugiri, in the Tumkur district of the Indian state of Karnataka. The environment around Madhugiri has very poor water conditions resulting in significant cases of bacterial infection, especially among the young. Clean water plays a critical role in protecting against disease.
“We are proud to help deliver sustainable water solutions in India through Xylem Watermark,” said Gretchen McClain, president and chief executive officer, Xylem Inc. “Xylem is committed to make our mark on the global water crisis, and projects like this demonstrate tremendous potential for improving lives.”
More than twenty Xylem employees from locations across India helped construct the towers, which each provide 10,000 liters of clean, filtered water per day. One tower, installed at Mount View Public School in Madhugiri, will provide water to the school's children and teachers, in addition to the village population of 36,000. The second tower, installed at another school in the village of Dodderi, will benefit the school's 280 students, plus teachers and the village population of 2,700.
“At Planet Water Foundation, we are dedicated to projects like this and are thrilled to work with a corporate partner like Xylem,” said Nick Hill, Executive Chairman, Planet Water. “This project is a good example of a global corporation and nonprofit entity leveraging each other's resources and expertise to benefit a community in need.”
To create sustainable solutions in Madhugiri, Planet Water Foundation will also provide hygiene education to children, emphasizing the importance of hand-washing to protect against disease. The Foundation also will engage key stakeholders in the region, including local government and community authorities, to maintain the towers.
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. Launched in 2011 from the spinoff of the water-related businesses of ITT Corporation, Xylem is headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., with 2010 annual revenues of $3.2 billion and 12,000 employees 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.
About Xylem Watermark
Xylem Watermark is Xylem Inc.'s corporate citizenship and social investment program, created to provide and protect safe water resources for communities in need. Through Watermark, Xylem works with leading international nonprofits, including Mercy Corps, Water For People and China Women's Development Foundation. Since its creation in 2008, Watermark has provided safe water and sanitation that has improved the lives of more than 500,000 people in 20 countries.
About Planet Water Foundation
Planet Water is a U.S.-based non-profit organization working to alleviate waterborne disease, illness, and death by providing access to clean drinking water and improved sanitation facilities in the world's most disadvantaged communities. Their work is targeted toward schools and rural villages with sustainable solutions combined with educational programs on waterhealth and hygiene. Planet Water has completed projects in nine countries across the Asia-Pacific region, and in 2011 will bring clean, safe water to more than 100,000 people in need.