White Plains, N.Y. (June 6, 2012) – Xylem Inc., a leading global water technology company focused on addressing the world’s most challenging water issues, has been awarded the prestigious Excellence Award in Corporate Philanthropy by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP).

Yesterday at the 2012 Corporate Philanthropy Summit at Time Warner headquarters in New York City, Xylem’s corporate responsibility and social investment program, Xylem Watermark, was recognized with the President's Award, given to a company with annual revenues of $20 billion or less each year. Judging criteria included strong CEO leadership, commitment to innovation, dedication to measurement and cultivation of strategic partnerships. CECP's Excellence Awards in Corporate Philanthropy are among the most coveted in the field, drawing a diverse pool of highly qualified applications each year. Presented annually since 2000, winners are selected by an external committee comprising representatives from the corporate, nonprofit, social investment, consulting, media and academic communities.

“At Xylem, we work every day to create positive economic impact for our company while generating positive social impact around the world, and we could not be more proud of CECP’s recognition for our corporate responsibility efforts,” said Gretchen McClain, president and chief executive officer of Xylem. “To have achieved this recognition in our first year as an independent company is a true accomplishment, and a testament to our employees everywhere who take very seriously our tagline - 'Let's solve water.' These three words capture what we aim to do through our products, our applications solutions, our research and development, and our initiatives in sustainability and corporate social responsibility."

Xylem Watermark’s mission is to provide and protect safe water resources in communities around the world. From 2008 to 2010, Watermark surpassed its goal to reach 500,000 people with clean water and sanitation solutions, and then in 2010 committed to reaching one million more people by 2013. Watermark is successful in large part through partnerships with global humanitarian organizations Water For People, Mercy Corps and China Women’s Development Foundation. Through school and community water projects, sanitation and hygiene education and disaster preparedness, relief and recovery efforts, Xylem Watermark makes every drop count in finding solutions to global water challenges.

Continuing its legacy of achieving impact through Xylem Watermark and expert partners, Xylem has established two new strategic partnerships to help drive access to clean water and sanitation solutions in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. Beginning later this year, Xylem will provide funding and employee volunteer hours to Fundación AVINA and Planet Water Foundation to help provide clean water access to more than 40,000 people throughout Brazil, China, India and the Philippines.

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 2011 revenues of $3.8 billion and 12,500 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.

Launched in August 2008, Xylem Watermark’s mission is to provide and protect safe water resources in communities around the world. To accomplish this goal, the Watermark program pledged an initial $4 million over three years (2008-2010) to three nonprofit partners: Water For People, China Women’s Development Foundation and Mercy Corps. From 2008 to 2010, Watermark surpassed its goal to reach 500,000 people with clean water and sanitation solutions, and then in 2010 committed to reaching one million more people by 2013 through school and community water projects, disaster risk reduction and disaster relief efforts.

The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) is the only international forum of business CEOs and chairpersons focused on raising the level and quality of corporate philanthropy. Membership includes more than 180 CEOs and chairpersons representing companies that account for more than 40 percent of reported corporate giving in the United States.

Planet Water Foundation is a U.S.-based, nonprofit international development organization focused on bringing clean water to the world's most disadvantaged communities through the installation of community-based water filtration systems and through education programs on water health and hygiene.

Fundación Avina is a Latin American foundation that contributes to sustainable development in the continent by encouraging productive alliances among social and business leaders and by brokering consensus around agendas for action. AVINA aims to improve and increase access to water in Latin America by promoting and strengthening democratic governance models.