World Water Day
Xylem employees and stakeholders are coming together from World Water Day (22 March 2019) to Earth Day (22 April 2019) through the “Make Your Mark 30-Day Challenge” to help solve water challenges through activities such as educational events for children focused on the water crisis and hosting walks for water to raise awareness of water issues.
The “Make Your Mark 30-Day Challenge” is conducted by Xylem’s corporate citizenship program Watermark. This year Xylem Watermark is expanding its efforts by welcoming stakeholders, including customers and partners, to join its programs to increase social impact. #MakeYourWaterMark will be followed by other signature volunteer initiatives throughout the year, including a month-of-service campaign in October.
“Global water challenges are intensifying, placing people and communities around the world at increasing risk,” said Xylem president and CEO Patrick Decker. “World Water Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of urgent challenges like water accessibility, affordability and resilience, to spotlight new possibilities to solve water through innovation and partnership, and to make a difference through community activities focused on addressing key water issues. Together we can all help create a more water secure and sustainable world.”
In addition to events planned as part of its “Make Your Mark 30-Day Challenge,” and to recognize World Water Day, Xylem is partnering with Planet Water Foundation (PWF) to deliver community-based clean drinking water systems and hygiene education programs in Cambodia, India, Indonesia and the Philippines, as part of the non-profit’s Project 24 event platform. Through this initiative, Xylem is funding five AquaTower systems, which will provide clean drinking water for 5000 people. Xylem will also team with Earth Echo to hold water quality monitoring events for middle school students in Houston, Texas, with Earth Echo CEO Philippe Cousteau.
Xylem is also driving global awareness of water issues through its partnership with Premier League football champions Manchester City and City Football Group. Earlier this year, Xylem joined forces with the team’s global community initiative, Cityzens Giving, to bring clean water systems, education and football coaching to communities facing water challenges in Bangalore, India.
“We know that no one can solve water alone, so we are leveraging creative partnerships and programming to tell the story of global water challenges, engage and inspire the public, and mobilize younger generations to join our cause,” said Joseph Vesey, chair, Xylem Watermark Committee and SVP and chief marketing officer at Xylem.