"Supporting customers' continued digital transformation is a key focus for Xylem"

Please tell us briefly about your career path and your current role at Xylem.

I originally studied chemical engineering as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, but I quickly found that working in a lab was not for me. I found the business side of things more compelling and completed an MBA with the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

My passion for water began when I landed my first job as a technical salesperson in water treatment with the Dow Chemical Company. I’d spend my days driving from city to city, talking to power plant operators and pharmaceutical engineers about solutions to optimize operations.

After a decade, I left and spent some time working in renewable and green chemical manufacturing and product development, but water kept calling me, and I eventually returned to Dow to lead its water and process solutions business. 

In 2018, I joined Evoqua as Chief Growth Officer, later adding sustainability to my remit. In that role, I led corporate and sustainability strategy, M&A, research and development, and smart water efforts. Since 2023, I have served as Senior Vice President and Chief Growth and Innovation Officer at Xylem, following the company’s acquisition of Evoqua. I lead the company’s approach to improving customer experience and outcomes, with a focus on innovation and digital transformation.

What are some of the current and future opportunities for Xylem and its customers in terms of innovation and digital transformation?

We’re at an inflection point for water, where our customers are seeing pervasive challenges but also incredible opportunities. We’re using the latest innovations and technologies to empower our customers to address these challenges. Water scarcity, quality, affordability, and infrastructure resilience – both physical and digital – are key areas of focus for us.

Take infrastructure resilience. Water operators are on the frontlines of climate change impacts. Ageing infrastructure combined with variable water supply – whether too much or not enough – is posing serious challenges, but technology can offer fast and affordable solutions. 

For example, record rainfall in regions around the world is straining ageing systems already stressed by population growth, forcing operators to battle against sewer overflows. Smart sewer systems offer an efficient solution. In Buffalo, New York, a real-time decision support system reduced combined sewer overflows by 450 million gallons in the first 12 months, along with savings of $145 million.

Likewise, technology innovation is enabling communities to manage water scarcity, quality, and affordability issues. We’re helping our customers to integrate digital technologies into their existing systems for rapid and cost-effective gains. Integrated data management tools such as Xylem Vue powered by GoAigua provide water operators with a single view of their networks, helping them to manage their systems more effectively. 

The EPA recently announced new PFAS regulations. How will this impact water utilities and how is Xylem helping operators address PFAS in the water supply?

Across the U.S., more than 5,000 water systems will need to develop new water sources or install advanced treatment technologies for PFAS

The new regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have set maximum contaminant levels for PFAS for the first time. This brings significant implications for our water utility customers, and the scale of the challenge should not be underestimated.

Across the U.S., more than 5,000 water systems will need to develop new water sources or install advanced treatment technologies. Our job is to help our customers navigate these new rules and find the best possible solution for effective remediation.

The good news is, there are practical ways for communities to remove PFAS from drinking water. Proven solutions exist. We’ve been supporting customers with PFAS remediation technologies with over 80 installations in the last 10 years.

One example of a successful installation is in Orange County, California. Following a change in California law in 2020, the Orange County Water District (OCWD) deployed more than 30 liquid-phase media adsorption vessel systems to treat PFAS. The vessels were connected to existing drinking water wells, enabling the district to continue delivering clean drinking water to its more than 2.5 million customers. This deployment is a great example of selecting a system that helps water operators get ahead of future requirements.

What are some of the technologies and solutions that you offer or are developing for PFAS?

There are practical ways to remove PFAS from drinking water: two of our key technologies are granular activated carbon and ion exchange resin

Two of our key treatment technologies are granular activated carbon and ion exchange resin. Granular activated carbon is widely used due to its effectiveness, scalability, and relatively low cost. It involves passing contaminated water through a bed of activated carbon particles. PFAS compounds are adsorbed onto the surface of the carbon, removing them from the water. Our experts can help utility and industrial customers select the right carbon, enabling them to improve carbon performance, increase the time between exchanges, and minimize operating costs.

Another option is Ion Exchange Resin, which involves passing contaminated water through a resin bed containing charged particles that attract and bind together with PFAS molecules, removing them from the water. This replaces PFAS ions with less harmful ions, purifying the water. We supply ion exchange resins for PFAS remediation in municipal and industrial applications, as well as specialty resins for high-purity applications in the microelectronics, nuclear, and food and beverage industries.

Could you provide an example of a utility that has successfully adopted your technologies for PFAS mitigation?

In addition to the OCWD example, we worked with the Stratmoor Hills Water District (SHWD) in Southern Colorado to identify a cost-effective solution. The utility had detected PFOA and PFOS – two of the most commonly identifiable PFAS compounds of concern – and chose to deploy selective single-use ion exchange treatment to counter the threat. The utility reduced contaminants to levels below compliance limits and mitigated water quality issues. This solution has also been extensively used in California and Massachusetts for removing perchlorate, a contaminant with similar properties to PFAS.

Can you comment on the challenges faced by utilities trying to meet treatment and compliance goals for drinking water?

Utilities face numerous challenges in meeting treatment and compliance goals, including uncertainty about regulations, significant financial burdens, and a shortage of expertise due to an ageing workforce. 

In the U.S., it’s estimated that upgrading facilities and infrastructure will cost $50 billion, with approximately 40% being covered by federal funding and legal settlements. The rest must be funded through alternative sources or raising rates. Additionally, there's a growing demand for water operators and experts experienced in treatment and accessing funding. Innovation and partnership are crucial for addressing these challenges. That’s where the private sector comes in. We work alongside our customers to understand and address their challenges with innovation.

What are your goals and vision for Xylem’s growth and innovation in the next five years?

Accelerating the decarbonization of the water sector is also a priority. We recently conducted a study, which showed that almost half of utilities have set a net-zero emissions goal. Helping our customers achieve those goals through advanced technologies underpins our innovation strategy. In 2022, we achieved our goal of enabling water operators to cut CO₂e emissions by 2.8 million metric tons, three years ahead of schedule. By combining our expertise and service capabilities with market leading transport, metering, treatment, and measurement products, we can optimize our customers’ performance.

A large part of our innovation strategy is fostering collaborative partnerships through Xylem Innovation Labs. We have a long history of partnering with universities, startups, technology companies, and venture capital firms to scale new innovations. By combining the creativity and agility of entrepreneurship with Xylem’s global scale and reach, we can accelerate technologies that address the world’s most critical water challenges.