Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company that empowers customers and communities to build a more water-secure world. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the company provides a portfolio of tailored solutions that support the lifecycle of water in the utilities, industrial, and buildings sectors.
Where did your initial interest in environmental, health, and climate issues first stem from?
As a kid, my family had a cottage by a lake in northern Indiana, where we drank water straight from an artesian well. It was pristine, tasted fantastic, and was unlike anything we had back home. That experience sparked my fascination with water and its quality.
My career path took shape in college when 3M came to campus. They were working on occupational health and safety, protecting workers from asbestos exposure. That got me thinking about the broader potential of water-related work. What followed was a 39-year journey through companies such as Millipore, Veolia, Siemens, and eventually Xylem. Each role deepened my involvement with water technologies, driven by the same curiosity that began at that artesian well.
What is the biggest change you’ve observed in the water industry over the years, for better or worse?
The most significant change is how rapidly water-related risks are escalating. Ten years ago, droughts were largely confined to arid regions, but now, nearly every state in the U.S.—except Alaska and Kentucky—has experienced droughts. This shift highlights how climate change, population growth, and industrial demand are placing unprecedented pressure on water resources.
At Xylem, we focus on building water-secure communities as the foundation for a water-secure world. This involves addressing localized issues like drought and scarcity while considering the global implications of fast-growing industries, such as data centers. These centers consume enormous amounts of water and energy, creating additional challenges that we must navigate carefully.
Looking at water management today, exactly how broad is the spectrum of issues we should be concerned with?
Water issues today range from scarcity and contamination to distribution challenges in high-demand areas. As global sustainability goals drive action, companies are focusing on advanced technologies to address these issues. For example, advanced oxidation processes are being used to recycle water in areas with high demand.
Additionally, contaminants such as PFAS, which weren’t on the radar 20 years ago, are now major concerns. At least 60% of the U.S. population is likely to have ‘forever chemicals’ in their tap water, and 6,000 U.S. utilities must remove PFAS to near undetectable levels. Addressing these challenges requires innovation in water treatment and reuse technologies. Solutions must account for not just the availability of water but also the quality and the ability to adapt to new contaminants.
Going into 2025, which industries or markets is Xylem most focused on, and why?
Xylem serves several vertical markets, including biopharmaceuticals, food and beverage, microelectronics, and oil and gas. Currently, microelectronics and data centers are the biggest drivers of demand. These industries consume vast amounts of water, often without initially factoring water needs into their designs.
Data centers, in particular, are booming due to the growth of AI. Projections suggest the AI market could grow from $184 billion in 2024 to $826 billion by 2030. This rapid expansion demands more data centers, which increases the need for sustainable water management solutions.
How is Xylem leveraging technology to improve water management?
We approach technology as both a solution provider and an integrator. Xylem develops its own technologies but will also acquire external solutions when needed to meet specific water challenges. For example, we utilize advanced filtration methods like reverse osmosis, UV, and ozone to adapt to varying water qualities. One of our strengths is designing energy-efficient pumps and technologies that reduce water and energy consumption. This dual focus on water and energy efficiency addresses the global water-energy nexus and supports sustainability across industries.
When Hurricane Helene hit the Southeastern U.S. in late September, a municipal wastewater plant was shut down, threatening the local water supply. Xylem responded by deploying mobile treatment units within 72 hours. These units used dissolved air flotation systems to treat and recycle water, preventing contamination and maintaining supply for affected areas. Another example is our partnership with Orange County Water District, where we deployed more than 30 liquid-phase media absorption vessels to remove PFAS. This initiative provided clean drinking water to more than 2.5 million customers in Southern California and reduced operational expenses by incorporating advanced resin technologies.
Which technologies that can be implemented more broadly for recycling and reusing contaminated water are you most excited about?
A great example comes from the microelectronics industry with a company called Silfex. We implemented reverse osmosis (RO) systems, carbon filters, ultraviolet treatment, and final filtration to reuse up to 80% of the water that was being discharged into a city sewer, which saved millions of gallons annually and reduced the demand for municipal water treatment.
While we try to standardize these unit operations for efficiency, every water supply is different. What works for one application may require pre-treatment steps for another. We always start with water analytics to design a sustainable, long-term solution.
How can emerging technologies do you believe have the potential to make a substantive difference when it comes to water management?
Some newer technologies, such as advanced evaporation and crystallization, are becoming more economically viable. These are key to achieving what we call zero liquid discharge (ZLD) or minimum liquid discharge (MLD).
ZLD essentially boils water down to leave crystals in the solids, which can be redeployed, while all the water is reused. While it’s not applicable everywhere, I believe ZLD and MLD will play a larger role as we develop solutions for the future. These technologies will become part of our vocabulary as we address more challenging applications.
