Global water technology, pump manufacturer and pump rental specialist Xylem Inc., and Planet Water Foundation, a non-profit organization that addresses global water poverty by delivering clean water access and hygiene education programs, have announced plans for Planet Water Foundation to integrate Xylem pump products into all the non-profit’s water filtration and sanitation solutions.
Since 2011, Xylem and Planet Water Foundation have provided education and access to safe, potable water in more than 400 communities in 12 countries, supporting the daily drinking water requirements of nearly 500,000 people. Building on this success, the new terms of the partnership extends Xylem’s involvement to more than 1,100 projects in 13 countries, adding Xylem’s renowned manual, solar, petrol and electric pumping solutions to multiple life-changing engineering solutions.
“Planet Water Foundation installs water filtration solutions in areas that are in critical need of access to clean water – whether a community in a remote, rural area, or the provision of clean, safe drinking water for people in need in the wake of a natural disaster,” said Mark Steele, founder and CEO of Planet Water Foundation. “It is important that our solutions provide a high level of quality and reliability where our products are deployed, and Xylem’s pumps have proven to be world-class. We’re proud to extend our partnership with an innovative, purpose-driven company like Xylem, which provides us with the technology we need to provide clean water access to communities around the world.”
With more than 2 billion people across the globe living in water-stressed countries, Xylem recognizes its role in harnessing the power of digital technologies to solve water challenges, safeguard our environment and drive social change.
“Xylem has a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to drive change and promote water sustainability with our business and with our social impact efforts,” said Joseph Vesey, chief marketing officer, Xylem. “This partnership helps us deliver on one of our sustainability goals – to empower communities to achieve water security. We’ve committed 1 percent of Xylem employees’ time and 1 percent of our profits to help make that happen. We are enthusiastic about extending our work with Planet Water Foundation to advance our shared goal of helping communities solve urgent water challenges.”
In March 2019, Xylem Watermark’s humanitarian disaster response team partnered with Planet Water following the landfall of Cyclone Idai in southern Africa, which killed more than 1,300 people. Hundreds of thousands of families were displaced from their homes because of flooding, many of whom relocated to the Arboretum Camp in the Chimanimani region of Zimbabwe. Xylem’s employee volunteers with technical expertise were deployed to install the AquaBlock, which would provide emergency clean, potable water access to those stationed at the camp. Today, 150 to 160 displaced persons still remain at the camp and will continue to have access to clean, safe water through the AquaBlock.
This was the first deployment in Africa where Xylem Watermark – Xylem’s corporate citizenship program, initiated in 2008, with a focus on protecting and providing safe water resources around the world and also educating people on water-related issues -- and Planet Water have partnered to respond quickly with an emergency clean water system to help in time of need. Xylem Watermark and Planet Water Foundation will continue to collaborate, and the partnership will remain critical in supporting those impacted during the upcoming hurricane season and similar flooding events.
Planet Water Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on bringing clean drinking water to the world’s most disadvantaged communities through the installation of community-based water filtration systems and the implementation of hygiene education programs.
