Xylem partners with Chris Long Foundation and Water Well Trust to solve water scarcity in rural Pennsylvania A recent donation provided Jamey and Brandy Godin, along with their five children, who live in Stoystown, Pennsylvania, a water well upgrade, securing their access to safe and reliable water. This collaborative project, completed by Xylem Inc., the Read more
Waterboys
Xylem partners with Chris Long Foundation and Water Well Trust to solve water scarcity in rural Pennsylvania
A recent donation provided Jamey and Brandy Godin, along with their five children, who live in Stoystown, Pennsylvania, a water well upgrade,
securing their access to safe and reliable water. This collaborative project, completed by Xylem Inc., the Water Well Trust (WWT) and Waterboys – a charity founded by two-time Super Bowl Champion, Chris Long – provided a comprehensive upgrade including a new water well liner, pump, motor and deepening of the well, along with all necessary equipment, drilling and
installation. Additionally, the project provided home improvement upgrades. Local distributor Aquaflow Pump and Supply and dealer Sperry Drilling contributed their time and services and the Vinyl Institute donated PVC piping material to help complete the project.
“As a well driller, our company has witnessed the impact of water scarcity firsthand, and we believe everyone deserves sufficient water access. With 56 years of experience, our team at Sperry Drilling prioritizes homeowners and their water needs, both on and off the job,” said Judy Bird, president, Sperry Drilling. “For us, it’s about giving back to our community and supporting
those in need.”
In November 2023, the Godin family’s water well stopped producing sufficient clean water due to a drought on their property, compounded by a statewide drought watch in Pennsylvania starting in July 2023. The Godin’s well was showing signs of structural caving, requiring the installation of a well liner and drilling down another 100 feet to secure a reliable water source. While the well sporadically produced a small amount of water, it was not enough to sustain the
family’s basic needs and forced them to seek alternatives, including showering and laundering clothes elsewhere. The Godins resorted to driving 50 miles roundtrip to collect water from friends and family, which lasted only three days at most for drinking and hygiene.
“The support we’ve received from Xylem and the Water Well Trust throughout this process has been overwhelming. Having water and making sure we don’t have to go without it is truly a blessing,” said Water Well Trust beneficiary Jamey Godin. “This upgrade to our well means we now have a reliable source of water for our family to depend on.” The Godin family’s well upgrade marks the sixteenth Hometown H2O project, an extension of its domestic water initiative working alongside WWT and Xylem to provide clean, sustainable water
to communities in need. Water scarcity issues currently leave more than 2 million Americans without access to clean water, making this joint effort between Long, his Foundation’s Waterboys initiative and Xylem a vital resource for families across the country.
“Clean water access is fundamental to well-being, and at Xylem, we’re proud to play a role in initiatives like HometownH2O.” said Susan O’Grady, senior director of marketing, building services and agriculture, Xylem. “Our partnership with organizations like the Water Well Trust and Waterboys allows us to leverage our expertise and technology to bring sustainable water
solutions to families in need making a meaningful impact on communities facing water scarcity.”
Xylem, in conjunction with its Goulds Water Technology brand, is engaged in regular water well initiatives to provide secure water access to rural areas, striving to increase public awareness of the challenges surrounding lack of water access. For more information about Hometown H2O projects, visit waterboys.org/hometown.
Fourteenth HometownH2O project furthers awareness of rural water access challenges The Dittman family of Parker, Pennsylvania, has received a new water well system yesterday that will provide dependable water access on their property, something the family has been living without. This installation was made possible through a collaborative effort between Xylem Inc., Water Well Trust Read more
Fourteenth HometownH2O project furthers awareness of rural water access challenges
The Dittman family of Parker, Pennsylvania, has received a new water well system yesterday that will provide dependable water access on their property, something the family has been living without. This installation was made possible through a collaborative effort between Xylem Inc., Water Well Trust (WWT) and Waterboys, a charity founded by former NFL player Chris Long. The donation covered all aspects of the project, including necessary equipment, drilling and installation, as well as completion of a home improvement project. Local partners Aquaflow Pump Supply and Flick Drilling played a crucial role in the installation, while The Vinyl Institute provided piping material.
The Dittman family of Parker, Pennsylvania.
Amanda and Samuel Dittman live with their two children in a farmhouse built by Amanda’s great-great-grandfather in 1903. The home, which has been passed down through generations, drew water from a natural spring on the property. Over the years, the family has experienced a continuous decline in their water supply. The spring does not consistently produce water, and provides no water during the dry season, leaving the family without access to a dependable water source. As a result, the Dittmans have relied on family and neighbors to help them haul water daily from town – a 40-minute round-trip drive – and add it to their holding tank. Despite implementing water conservation practices, the family continued to struggle with basic tasks such as cooking, cleaning, showering, doing laundry and tending to their garden.
“I am proud of the history of this house, but it does come with some challenges. There have been a lot of times we’ve thought about moving, even though it wouldn’t allow us to live how we want to,” said Water Well Trust beneficiary Amanda Dittman. “My neighbor always checks on us in the summer to ask if we need water or to use her laundry. It’s a relief to tell her that we finally have water, and she doesn’t have to worry about us anymore. It’s a huge weight off our shoulders.”
This donation marks the 14th collaborative project for Xylem, WWT and HometownH2O – a domestic water initiative dedicated to bringing clean, sustainable water to people and communities in need across the United States. Launched in early 2020, HometownH2O is a united effort between Long, his Foundation’s Waterboys initiative and Xylem to address water scarcity issues, which currently leave more than 2 million Americans without access to clean water. HometownH2O works alongside WWT, a national nonprofit that helps fund and supply water to low-income families.
“HometownH2O is working to tackle the water crisis here at home. Many people in the United States take safe drinking water for granted, but no matter your zip code, everyone deserves access to dependable water,” said Long, two time Super Bowl champion and founder of the Chris Long Foundation. “Our mission with each well installation we complete is to continue to spread awareness and through collaborative solutions, bring water access to those who need it most. Xylem and Water Well Trust are indispensable partners in this effort.”
“Our partnership with the Chris Long Foundation and the Water Well Trust through the HometownH2O program allows us to continue to address domestic water scarcity issues that impact countless families across the United States,” said Susan O’Grady, senior director of marketing, building services and agriculture, Xylem. “We are proud to be part of the solution to ensure that residents in rural communities, like Parker Pennsylvania, can enjoy the essential resource of clean, safe water.”
Xylem, in conjunction with its Goulds Water Technology brand, is engaged in regular water well initiatives to provide secure water access to rural areas, striving to increase public awareness of the challenges surrounding lack of water access. For more information about the HometownH2O project, visit waterboys.org/hometown.
The Dittman family of Parker, Pennsylvania, has received a new water well system yesterday that will provide dependable water access on their property, something the family has been living without. This installation was made possible through a collaborative effort between Xylem Inc., Water Well Trust (WWT) and Waterboys, a charity founded by former NFL player Read more
The Dittman family of Parker, Pennsylvania, has received a new water well system yesterday that will provide dependable water access on their property, something the family has been living without. This installation was made possible through a collaborative effort between Xylem Inc., Water Well Trust (WWT) and Waterboys, a charity founded by former NFL player Chris Long. The donation covered all aspects of the project, including necessary equipment, drilling and installation, as well as completion of a home improvement project. Local partners Aquaflow Pump Supply and Flick Drilling played a crucial role in the installation, while The Vinyl Institute provided piping material.
Amanda and Samuel Dittman live with their two children in a farmhouse built by Amanda’s great-great-grandfather in 1903. The home, which has been passed down through generations, drew water from a natural spring on the property. Over the years, the family has experienced a continuous decline in their water supply. The spring does not consistently produce water, and provides no water during the dry season, leaving the family without access to a dependable water source. As a result, the Dittmans have relied on family and neighbors to help them haul water daily from town – a 40-minute round-trip drive – and add it to their holding tank. Despite implementing water conservation practices, the family continued to struggle with basic tasks such as cooking, cleaning, showering, doing laundry and tending to their garden.
“I am proud of the history of this house, but it does come with some challenges. There have been a lot of times we’ve thought about moving, even though it wouldn’t allow us to live how we want to,” said Water Well Trust beneficiary Amanda Dittman. “My neighbor always checks on us in the summer to ask if we need water or to use her laundry. It’s a relief to tell her that we finally have water, and she doesn’t have to worry about us anymore. It’s a huge weight off our shoulders.”
This donation marks the 14th collaborative project for Xylem, WWT and HometownH2O – a domestic water initiative dedicated to bringing clean, sustainable water to people and communities in need across the United States. Launched in early 2020, HometownH2O is a united effort between Long, his Foundation’s Waterboys initiative and Xylem to address water scarcity issues, which currently leave more than 2 million Americans without access to clean water. HometownH2O works alongside WWT, a national nonprofit that helps fund and supply water to low-income families.
“HometownH2O is working to tackle the water crisis here at home. Many people in the United States take safe drinking water for granted, but no matter your zip code, everyone deserves access to dependable water,” said Long, two-time Super Bowl champion and founder of the
Chris Long Foundation. “Our mission with each well installation we complete is to continue to spread awareness and through collaborative solutions, bring water access to those who need it most. Xylem and Water Well Trust are indispensable partners in this effort.”
“Our partnership with the Chris Long Foundation and the Water Well Trust through the HometownH2O program allows us to continue to address domestic water scarcity issues that impact countless families across the United States,” said Susan O’Grady, senior director of marketing, building services and agriculture, Xylem. “We are proud to be part of the solution to ensure that residents in rural communities, like Parker Pennsylvania, can enjoy the essential resource of clean, safe water.”
Xylem, in conjunction with its Goulds Water Technology brand, is engaged in regular water well initiatives to provide secure water access to rural areas, striving to increase public awareness of the challenges surrounding lack of water access. For more information about the HometownH2O project, visit waterboys.org/hometown.
Clean, running water gifted to Illert family of Eureka, Missouri, through Hometown H2O Former St. Louis Rams star Chris Long and partners Xylem and Water Well Trust provided a local family of four in Eureka, Missouri, access to clean water with a donated water well system, equipment, well drilling and pump installation. The Illert family Read more
Clean, running water gifted to Illert family of Eureka, Missouri, through Hometown H2O
Former St. Louis Rams star Chris Long and partners Xylem and Water Well Trust provided a local family of four in Eureka, Missouri, access to clean water with a donated water well system, equipment, well drilling and pump installation. The Illert family – Justin Illert, veteran, age 30 yrs old, Sarah age 27, Lilah, age 5, and Austin, age 1 – was previously living without clean, running water in their home and relied on bottled water and rainwater for cooking and cleaning. The family now has reliable access to clean, potable water for the first time.
“It feels like we won the lottery,” said Sarah Illert, Water Well Trust beneficiary. “It means the world. It really is life changing for us. We are so grateful to have clean water to cook with, do our laundry, clean the dishes, and take clean showers and baths.”
The donation marked the fourth project between Xylem Inc., Water Well Trust and Hometown H2O, which is a domestic water program dedicated to bringing clean, sustainable water to people and communities in need across the United States. Hometown H2O – a program launched in early 2020 – is a united effort between retired NFL player Chris Long and his Foundation’s Waterboys initiative and water technology company Xylem Inc. to address domestic water scarcity issues, which currently leave more than 2 million Americans without access to clean water. Hometown H2O and Xylem work alongside the Water Well Trust, a national nonprofit that helps qualify low-income families. This project was also supported by beverage company Talking Rain, who donated water to project staff and made a financial contribution to the family.
“Nobody should have to live without access to clean water– especially the brave and honorable men and women that have served our nation,” said Chris Long, two-time Super Bowl champion and founder of the Chris Long Foundation. “Clean water access for many Americans is an increasingly serious problem. Since Hometown H2O launched in 2020, we have raised awareness for water equality that affects policy at the state and federal levels. We will continue to prioritize this mission in our future projects. The organizations we work with, including Xylem and Water Well Trust, bring industry expertise to the table, and passionately do what it takes to make these projects successful. Thank you to our supporting partners for helping us to change lives and ensure that clean, running water is a basic human need that no American lacks.”
Xylem donated Goulds Water Technology brand equipment while local distributor partner Water Works of Springfield, Missouri, coordinated the discounted installation through pump installer Schroepfer Well Drilling, Inc. of Franklin County, Missouri. A team of volunteers – from Water Works and Xylem employees – also donated time to clean up the property’s yard.
“The unacceptable reality is that many Americans do not have access to potable, running water,” said Susan O’Grady, Director of Marketing, Building Services and Agriculture, Xylem. “For Xylem and its partners, we are honored to be able to use our expertise and passion for the cause to bring this vital service to people who deserve to have clean water.”
Xylem and Waterboys, along with nonprofit partner Water Well Trust, seek to raise awareness about domestic water issues, including that more 2 million people in the U.S. lack access to clean, safe drinking water at home. Working in coordination with Watermark and the company’s Goulds Water Technology brand, this partnership delivers ongoing water well projects to provide rural communities with reliable, safe water access, which can lead to better overall health and improved quality of life.