Helping customers build extreme weather resilience
Extreme weather and disaster events are intensifying across the globe. Between 2000 and 2019, major recorded disaster events increased more than 70% compared to the previous two decades. In the U.S., climate change-related natural disasters have cost more than $2 trillion in recovery costs since 1980. As the U.S. observes National Preparedness Month, here are four ways communities across the globe are using technology to build resilience to severe weather and climate challenges.
1. Helping a utility build resilience, while saving millions, through smart sewers
The City of Buffalo, New York, faced a steep challenge. Due to its mid-20th century sewer design, the city was experiencing nearly two billion gallons of combined sewer overflow (CSO) annually, discharging into receiving waterways. The pioneering utility implemented a real-time decision support system that has enabled them to maximize their existing infrastructure and create a smart, sustainable sewer system. Within the first 12 months, CSO volumes were reduced by 450 million gallons, and the city reaped $145 million in savings. Watch the video. Read more.
2. Providing innovative pumping and treatment solutions to mitigate water challenges in India
Xylem technology is helping communities across India solve complex water problems like water scarcity by improving access to drinking water and increasing water reuse. When drought led to empty wells in Karnataka, Xylem’s pumps brought water from the Tungabhadra River. When the famed Mughal Gardens in New Delhi needed new solutions to address an acute shortage of water for its plants and local ecosystem, Xylem’s UV disinfection solution was installed, enabling 80% of the water to be reused for green areas and wetlands. Learn more.
3. Delivering rapid response to help avert a major rain-related disaster in the UK
When days of torrential rains caused part of the Toddbrook Reservoir’s spillway to collapse in the small town of Whaley Bridge, UK, police called it an “unprecedented, fast-moving, emergency situation.” If the entire dam wall collapsed, 300 million gallons of water would have rushed into the town and valley below. Xylem worked with several contractors, including SLD Pumps & Power, Pump Supplies and Kier, one of the main contractors for the Canal and River Trust, which runs the site, deploying submersible dewatering pumps to draw water out of the reservoir and help the community stand strong. Learn more.
4. Delivering peace of mind and savings through a smart stormwater pumping system
Stormwater in Southeast Texas is a big challenge – especially since Hurricane Harvey dumped over 60 inches (152 cm) of rain when it stalled over the area for five continuous days in 2017. Construction EcoServices (CES) has provided stormwater services since 2002. When two pumps in their customer’s stormwater system failed, CES needed to find a solution that was more efficient and easier for their client to maintain. CES chose a solution from Xylem including two Flygt pumps with MultiSmart controls and FlygtCloud SCADA monitoring. The smaller size of the pumps makes them easier to service, and the fully monitored system delivers operational savings and peace of mind. Learn more.
Humanitarian disaster response
Through Xylem Watermark, our corporate social responsibility program, Xylem is also helping communities become more resilient through humanitarian disaster response. Learn about Watermark’s disaster response in Türkiye and Pakistan.