Hometown H2O program gifts East Texas family with clean, running water

XYLEM PARTNERS WITH THE CHRIS LONG FOUNDATION TO COMPLETE THIRD WATER WELL PROJECT

For David and Beverly Daily, their 83-acre property in Jacksonville, Texas, had everything they and their extended family could want. Everything but access to clean running water.

The Jacksonville water and sewer lines don’t reach the rural property where the Dailys live, along with their three children and their families. Other homes in the area use water wells, but installing one was cost-prohibitive for the family, according to Beverly Daily. Instead, they relied on rain barrels to collect water for everyday use and traveled to a filling station for potable drinking water.

While researching various options online, the Dailys’ daughter, Kimberly Holt, found the Water Well Trust, a nonprofit partner of Xylem, and Hometown H2O, a domestic water program working to bring access to clean and sustainable water to the more than 2 million Americans without it.

“They were only doing it in other parts of the country but I thought you know I am just gonna ask and the worst thing they can do is say no, right?” she said. About a week after Holt submitted the application, the Water Well Trust reached out to provide assistance.

Hometown H2O was launched in late 2019 as a result of a partnership between The Chris Long Foundation’s Waterboys initiative and Xylem Inc., a leading global watertechnology company dedicated to solving the world’s most critical water challenges, along with nonprofit partner Water Well Trust. The new well, which provides the Dailys, their children and their families with potable water directly to their homes, is the third Hometown H2O well donation project completed in 2020.

“The reality is that many American families – especially in rural areas – are forced to source their water from rain barrels or other unsanitary means for everyday use, and that should not be happening,” said Chris Long, two-time Super Bowl champion and founder and trustee of the Chris Long Foundation. “Water access for many Americans is a growing issue. Through Hometown H2O, we are working to ensure everyone has access to safe, clean water at home. A key part of that is working with one of the world’s leading water tech companies so that we can deliver sustainable projects and impact everyday quality of life for families as quickly as possible.”

Donations and price reductions from local businesses also make the projects possible. For the Daily project, Xylem donated Goulds Water Technology brand equipment while local distributor partner Wholesale Pump & Supply of Tyler donated casing, sand and concrete. Well installation services by Jackson Distributors of Cushing were provided at a discount.

“It’s an honor to be able to help fulfill the promise for a better life for these families,” said Rick Laborde, president, Wholesale Pump & Supply. “We could not be more thrilled to support the Water Well Trust, Xylem Watermark and Hometown H2O missions in order to provide the Dailys access to water.”

Following prep work at the site for well installation, the new 720-foot well was outfitted with a Goulds Water Technology 35 GPM, 7.5 HP submersible pump and motor. Additionally, the volunteer team installed a 116-gallon HydroPro Tank, 10 HP variable frequency drive (VFD) and an output filter for VFD. Wholesale Pump & Supply assisted with the electrical installation of the pump house and pump equipment.

“IF YOU’VE EVER DONE WITHOUT WATER FOR EVEN A FEW HOURS, IT’S INCONVENIENT, BUT IF YOU DO WITHOUT IT ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR A PERIOD OF MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS, IT’S A WHOLE NEW ASPECT”

Xylem’s corporate social responsibility program Watermark provided volunteers who conduct various improvement projects on the property beyond the well donation. Taking social distancing precautions amid coronavirus concerns, local Xylem employees joined forces with Wholesale Pump & Supply and Jackson Distributors employees to help build the pump house for the new water well, ensuring its longevity for the family’s access to water.

“COVID-19 has made already challenging circumstances even more difficult, and we recognize how imperative our resources are to helping those in need duringthis unprecedented time,” said Susan O’Grady, director, Americas Building Services & Agriculture, Xylem. “Not having access to running water and/or potable water is an unimaginable reality that has since become unbearable for these families. For Xylem and its partners, we feel it’s the right thing to do to use our collective expertise, solutions, services and donations to bring a potentially life-saving resource to such deserving people.”

Following the installation of the water well and other improvements to the property, Beverly Daily expressed the family’s appreciation.

“If you’ve ever done without water for even a few hours, it’s inconvenient, but if you do without it on a regular basis for a period of months or even years, it’s a whole new aspect,” she said. “We’re very grateful for it.”

For more information about the partnership between Xylem Inc. and The Chris Long Foundation’s Waterboys initiative, please visit Goulds.com/Waterboys.