Turning pressure into progress: three examples of water security in action
Three real-world examples show how utilities and industries are strengthening water security through water reuse, resilient infrastructure, and smart water technologies. From Los Angeles to Washington state to the Netherlands, Xylem customers are modernizing water systems to meet growing demand.
Water sustains every community and every economy, and securing it has never been more important. Around the world, communities and industries are strengthening water systems as demand grows, and infrastructure evolves. Emerging technologies are also reshaping the conversation. The rapidly expanding AI economy — powered by data centers and digital infrastructure — is projected to add 30 trillion liters of annual water demand by 2050.
This moment presents an opportunity to modernize water systems, expand water supplies through advanced treatment and reuse, and use data to manage resources more intelligently. Strong partnerships between utilities, industry, and communities are helping turn these opportunities into practical solutions.
World Water Day is an opportunity to highlight progress already underway. Across the globe, utilities and industries are adopting new approaches to strengthen water management and build more resilient systems.
Here are three examples of how Xylem customers are advancing water security through advanced treatment, resilient infrastructure, and intelligent water management.
Los Angeles protects city groundwater supply with recycled water
Cities facing water scarcity are increasingly turning to water reuse to create reliable new supplies. In Los Angeles, recycled water is central to protecting the region’s groundwater and strengthening long-term water resilience.
Despite record rainfall in 2023, groundwater recovery in Southern California remains limited. Research from the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability shows deep aquifers in the Los Angeles area have only recovered about 25% of the groundwater lost since 2006 — highlighting the need for new water sources.
At the heart of the city’s strategy is the Terminal Island Water Reclamation Plant (TIWRP), operated by LA Sanitation and Environment (LASAN). The facility produces highly purified recycled water using advanced treatment technologies, including microfiltration, reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation. This purified water is used to create seawater intrusion barriers and support groundwater recharge along the coast.
By turning treated wastewater into a valuable resource, Los Angeles demonstrates how advanced treatment and reuse can help cities unlock new water sources and strengthen long-term water security.
Pasco transforms food industry wastewater into renewable energy with shared infrastructure
Reliable water infrastructure is essential for economic growth. In Pasco, Washington, six food processors faced growing challenges managing high-strength wastewater as production increased and environmental requirements tightened.
To address this, the city and its partners built a shared regional facility designed to treat wastewater while recovering valuable resources.
At the center of the system are two 35-million-gallon anaerobic digesters — among the largest of their kind in North America. These digesters break down organic waste to produce biogas, which is then upgraded into renewable natural gas (RNG).
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ADI-BVF® reactor
Anaerobic digestion system that offers very stable, robust wastewater treatment and biogas generation under a wide range of operating conditions.
The facility now provides reliable, year-round wastewater treatment for all six food manufacturers, allowing companies to focus on production while the city manages treatment and resource recovery.
Projects like Pasco’s are becoming increasingly important as communities work to support expanding industries. According to the 2025 Black & Veatch Water Report, the share of U.S. utilities able to support large new industries dropped from 77% in 2023 to 65% in 2024, highlighting the need for modern water infrastructure that supports both economic growth and environmental performance.
Brabant Water builds one of Europe’s largest smart water networks to improve efficiency
While new infrastructure investments are essential, digital intelligence is helping utilities get more value from the water systems they already operate.
In the Netherlands, Brabant Water supplies drinking water to 2.6 million residents and businesses across the province of North Brabant. To manage rising demand and maintain reliability across its extensive network, the utility is undertaking a large-scale digital transformation with Xylem.
At the center of the project is a digital twin of the entire water network, integrating connected sensors, advanced analytics and smart metering. The virtual model covers 29 treatment facilities and nearly 12,000 miles of pipelines, continuously receiving real-time data from sensors, meters, and pumping stations.
This real-time visibility allows operators to detect leaks faster, anticipate equipment issues and simulate system performance under different conditions — such as demand spikes or operational changes — before problems affect customers. Over the next several years, Brabant Water will also deploy 120,000 ultrasonic smart meters, providing even more detailed data to support network optimization.
Utilities using connected technologies are already seeing measurable results. In Valencia, Spain, Global Omnium uses smart meter consumption data to power an internal leak detection system that has identified more than 700 leaks, helping save more than 300,000 m³ of water each year, while reducing customer complaints by 60%.
For Brabant Water, similar digital intelligence will help turn complex infrastructure into a more responsive, resilient water system.
Building a more water-secure world together
Strengthening water security requires modern systems, new sources of supply, and smarter ways to manage water resources. From expanding reuse in Los Angeles, to modernizing shared infrastructure in Pasco, to using digital intelligence in Brabant, these examples show how practical solutions are already delivering results.
As demand grows and water systems evolve, partnerships between utilities, industry, and technology providers will be essential. Together, these efforts are helping communities manage water more effectively and build more resilient, water-secure systems for the future.