Thu, 03/23/2017 - 08:35

WASHINGTON (March 23, 2017)—Xylem presented to DC Water the first installation in North America of the Flygt Concertor, which Xylem calls the world’s first wastewater pumping system with integrated intelligence. Amid renewed interest in federal investments in infrastructure, DC Water and Xylem are highlighting the need for investing in smart water infrastructure to maximize operational productivity and benefit customers, according to a statement from Xylem. In a report released earlier this month, the American Society of Civil Engineers estimated that the U.S. needs to invest a minimum of $123 billion per year in water infrastructure over the next 10 years to achieve a good state of repair, according to Xylem. In order to advance research and development in the area of smart water infrastructure and advanced data analytics in the sector, Xylem and DC Water signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on future innovation initiatives. The two organizations expressed a commitment to accelerating innovation through field-driven pilots that focus on increasing the productivity of managing water and wastewater and improve the resilience and sustainability of those operations. “In the U.S., our water and wastewater infrastructure faces a daunting investment gap that places these critical systems at risk and leaves our communities vulnerable to the consequences of system failures,” Xylem President and CEO Patrick Decker said. “We are so pleased to be able to partner with DC Water—a true industry leader—to address these challenges, leveraging technology to develop new, more sustainable solutions.” DC Water CEO and General Manager George Hawkins said, “At DC Water, we’re always looking down the road for the next innovation that will help us do our job better, at less cost. This new technology accomplishes that and I’m excited about the implications not just for us, but for the industry as a whole. It’s also an important demonstration of partnerships between the best elements of private sector innovation and public sector operational know-how, and I’m proud to be on the forefront of this effort.” Hawkins welcomed Xylem and guests to its Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant for a demonstration of the Flygt Concertor wastewater technology. “DC Water is working on many innovations focused on leveraging digital technologies to maximize operation and maintenance efficiencies,” said Biju George, chief operating officer of DC Water. “The Concertor pump will enable us to achieve this not only through the new capabilities of the pump itself but also with the embedded data for efficient asset management.”