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Xylem sells pumps, meters, and water treatment gear that move, clean, and measure water for cities and businesses.
Xylem makes the machines and software that move, clean, and measure water. It sells pumps that push water through pipes, meters that track how much water a city or building uses, and treatment systems that make dirty water safe again. Its customers are mostly water utilities, cities, factories, and building owners — the people responsible for making sure water comes out of the tap and goes back clean. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., but it sells all over the world.
The business runs in two main chunks today. One is water infrastructure — the big pipes, pumps, and treatment plants that cities rely on, plus the meters that measure usage; this is the larger piece, roughly three-quarters of revenue. The other is applied water — smaller pumps and systems used inside buildings and factories for heating, cooling, and industrial processes. A fast-growing slice of the whole company is software: Xylem bought Sensus, which makes smart water meters that send data wirelessly, and it bought Evoqua in 2023 to bulk up on water treatment. That software and data angle is what makes Xylem more than a boring pipe-and-pump shop. Think of it as the iPhone of water — hardware that constantly phones home with information, so utilities can spot leaks before they become floods.
Xylem was spun out of ITT Corporation in 2011 as a standalone water company. It makes money mostly by selling equipment, then earning recurring revenue from parts, service, and software subscriptions. Cities choose it because water systems are long-term bets — you do not swap out a pump every year — and once a utility installs Xylem meters, it tends to stick. The company spends on research, buys smaller rivals (Sensus, Evoqua, and others), pays a small dividend, and buys back stock. Its growth depends on aging pipes in rich countries needing upgrades and fast-growing cities in poorer ones needing water systems built from scratch.
Saved answer · last researched 11 Oct 2026