By Charlie King

Emma Housman, Senior Director of Sustainability & Social Impact at Xylem

Water is essential to the survival of the planet but, as the impact of climate change is increasingly evident, more and more areas are becoming water stressed. 

As Senior Director of Sustainability and Social Impact at Xylem, Emma Housman's role is all about working with different teams and supporting colleagues to tackle major water challenges for customers and communities. She focuses on environmental and water stewardship to ensure that Xylem manages and protects water resources responsibly.

She is also passionate about expanding WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) access around the world. Since 2019, together with its partners, Xylem has helped to bring WASH solutions to more than 16 million people and provided water education to 11 million.

She shares her insights on the importance of water and Xylem's work.

What is the impact of a region being water stressed?

Water is essential, it’s the source of life, health, and economic growth.

When a region doesn’t have enough water, it puts people’s health, communities, and local economies at risk. Right now, nearly half of the world’s population lives in areas facing water scarcity. Why is this happening? Factors like rapid urbanization, industrial growth, and unpredictable weather all play a part.

To help, we offer targeted solutions such as advanced leak detection to stop water loss in cities and water reuse technologies to reduce demand in growing industries. With these efforts, we’re helping turn water scarcity into water security for our customers and their communities.

How is water commonly wasted?

Water often gets wasted because of old and leaky pipes, inefficient use, and people not realizing the problems lurking within their water systems. In fact, in some cities, up to 60% of treated water, water that’s been cleaned and made safe, never makes it to the people who need it, especially where infrastructure is aging.

Much of this is what we call “non-revenue water,” meaning water that escapes through leaks, theft, or other issues and is never delivered to paying customers. That’s billions of gallons lost daily, along with the energy and money spent treating and moving it. On top of that, most wastewater is simply thrown away instead of being reused; globally, less than 10% is actually treated for reuse.

Boosting the rate of wastewater reuse is vital, it saves precious freshwater, cuts pollution, and builds more sustainable communities, especially where water is scarce.

What is Xylem doing to address water loss?

We’re taking a direct approach to water loss by updating infrastructure with smart, connected technology.

For example, our Xylem Vue platform is an intelligent software solution that helps utilities monitor water flow and detect leaks in real time using artificial intelligence. That means problems can be spotted and fixed quickly, saving water and lowering costs.

By using advanced sensors and AI-powered analytics on a digital platform, utilities get a clear view of their operations, allowing them to catch leaks and performance issues early, before they become expensive headaches. Our technology doesn’t just find issues; it helps utilities optimize performance, prioritize repairs, and extend the life of their assets, making water systems stronger and more efficient.

How can big tech work with water tech?

Tech companies and water experts have a big role to play in building water-smart infrastructure, especially as data centers and AI operations use more water than ever.

Take our recent partnership with Amazon in Mexico: we used Xylem Vue to cut non-revenue water and improve access for underserved communities, saving over 1.3 billion liters. It’s a great example of how these collaborations deliver real results and can be scaled worldwide.

At Xylem, everything we do is centered on sustainability, aiming for a future where everyone has water security

Emma Housman, Senior Director of Sustainability & Social Impact at Xylem

As AI transforms utility operations, these partnerships help accelerate water stewardship. By using advanced management tools, data centers can boost their water efficiency and take pressure off local supplies. Companies like Amazon are also helping to replenish resources and spark innovation, making utilities better prepared for water challenges now and in the future, all while keeping sustainability front and center.

Where do you see water tech in five years?

Looking ahead, water technology will become even more digital, intelligent, and circular, which means systems designed to recycle, reuse, and minimize waste. We’ll see widespread use of real-time monitoring, with advanced sensors tracking water quality and usage instantly, and AI predicting and preventing losses, optimizing treatment, and protecting supplies.

Cities like Singapore already treat and recycle wastewater at scale, and utilities in California use AI to detect leaks and save millions of gallons each year. These smart systems and digital platforms will make infrastructure more resilient to climate extremes, adapting in real time.

Water tech will also become more integrated with energy and digital networks, helping protect water as a vital resource for a sustainable future. For communities, this means safer drinking water, better drought resilience, and improved public health. For industries, it’s about lowering costs, shrinking their environmental footprint, and ensuring reliable access to clean water.

With strong investments and partnerships, these innovations will transform how we manage and protect water resources, helping communities and businesses thrive no matter what the future brings.

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Taxonomy

• Water Security
• Technology
• Water Security
• Water Security
• Water Utility
• California, United States
• Water Security