Xylem named 2015 Winner for U.S. Chamber Foundation Corporate Citizenship Award for Best Health and Wellness Program

RYE BROOK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 2015-- Xylem Inc. (NYSE:XYL), a leading global water technology company dedicated to solving the world’s most challenging water issues, has been awarded the 2015 Corporate Citizenship Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) for the Best Health and Wellness Program. The award recognizes Xylem’s work to provide sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene (W.A.S.H.) solutions to many of the world’s most vulnerable communities. In its 16^th year, the USCCF Corporate Citizenship Awards honor businesses for their significant positive impacts in communities around the world. The winners were announced on October 6 at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Xylem, through its corporate citizenship and social investment program, Xylem Watermark, partners with best-in-class nonprofit partners to build and improve W.A.S.H. infrastructure to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of people in nine countries. These projects include the construction of new water systems, renovation of washrooms and sanitation blocks, repair of hand-washing facilities, and the building of gravity-fed water towers and water cisterns in schools and communities. Xylem Watermark has collaborated with Water For People, China Women’s Development Foundation, Planet Water Foundation and Fundación Avina to execute 740 W.A.S.H.-related projects in the past seven years.

“W.A.S.H. education programs and access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene are critical building blocks to sustainable human and economic development,” said Colin Sabol, Chairman of the Xylem Watermark Committee. “We are especially proud to receive this award because it highlights our program’s results and the impact our programs have on local communities.”

Xylem Watermark and its nonprofit partners develop customized programs to increase broad adoption of smarter W.A.S.H. practices by communities in need. Dynamic curricula have been established in partnership with Planet Water Foundation and are deployed to teach schoolchildren about germs through games and coloring books – empowering students to become W.A.S.H. teachers for their families and communities. A recent Planet Water Foundation impact report noted that participants in the curriculum in India experienced an 80% decrease in diarrheal episodes versus a 27% increase among children not participating in the program. Likewise, Water For People uses a “train-the-trainer model” to engage local leaders to act as role models and mentors within their communities. Xylem also encourages its employees to make their mark through global and regional volunteer trips, where they participate in fieldwork in communities with nonprofit partners, becoming advocates for global water solutions.

Nick Hill, Planet Water Foundation Executive Chairman, has seen first-hand the value and impact the partnership with Xylem Watermark has brought to his organization’s global efforts. “Thanks to Xylem and Xylem Watermark, we can double our impact and provide resources needed to secure safe water and sanitation in communities that need it the most,” said Mr. Hill.

About Xylem

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. Xylem is headquartered in Rye Brook, New York, with 2014 revenues of $3.9 billion and approximately 12,500 employees worldwide. Xylem was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the last four years for advancing sustainable business practices and solutions worldwide and the Company has satisfied the requirements to be a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index Series each year since 2013.

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. For more information, please visit us at www.xylem.com.

About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness by addressing developments that affect our nation, our economy, and the global business environment.

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Source: Xylem Inc.

Xylem Inc.
Jennifer Jacob, +1-914-323-5754
Jennifer.Jacob@xyleminc.com
or
U.S. Chamber Foundation
Bailey Jacobs, +1-202-463-5766
BJacobs@USChamber.com