Water Technology - Jan 2012

FEATURE 4500 children die every day due to water borne illnesses One child every 20 seconds safe drinking water to developing areas protecting Life Become a Corporate Sponsor Today Visit www wishingwellintl org more details on how to become a sponsor Circle 215 12 Water Technology January 2012 for Industry has a responsibility to continue to find ways to conserve and reuse water We also must become more proactive in communicating about critical issues such as increasing investment in the water sector Every municipality and community needs tailored solutions for the collection distribution testing and treatment of their water Only by joining technologies with organizations throughout the water industry value chain will our dream of truly sustainable cities become a reality WT Dr Johan Groen is the chief technology officer for Xylem Inc a leading global water technology provider enabling customers to transport treat test and efficiently use water in public utility residential commercial agricultural and industrial settings Launched in 2011 from the spinoff of the water related businesses of ITT Corporation Xylem is headquartered in White Plains N Y with 2010 revenues of 32 billion and 12000 employees worldwide billion on repairs and improvements to water mains leaking pipes water treatment plants pumping stations and similar projects would create work for more than 400000 Americans throughout the economy including almost 90000 direct construction jobs The U S Department of Commerce estimates that adding one new job in local water and sewer services creates 368 jobs in the national economy to support it And the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act could create up to 57000 jobs by converting a modest investment by the federal government into billions of dollars of necessary economic investment into the nations aging water and sewage infrastructure To become more sustainable cities must become more efficient in energy consumption transportation and most important in how they manage water with an ultimate goal of achieving Net Zero consumption set for delivering reliable and economical drinking water to the people of this region Australia is experiencing a severe multiyear drought and advanced water treatment products are helping Sydney Airport to treat and recycle stormwater runoff for non potable uses like cooling towers washing vehicles and landscape irrigation This project is a great example of water recovery that saves the airport about 350 million liters of fresh water a year enough water to fill 140 Olympic sized swimming pools Economic benefits When we talk about sustainable cities its important to remember that this includes economic sustainability too Improvements to water infrastructure would also lead to economic benefits In the U S the American Water Works Association projects that spending just 10