Xylem has secured a long-term agreement with materials science company Dow to design, build and operate an advanced industrial water management system at Dow’s Fort Saskatchewan complex in Alberta, supporting expanded operations associated with the company’s Path2Zero project.
Under the agreement, Xylem will provide an end-to-end solution encompassing engineering, system design, construction and ongoing operations. The integrated system will manage the site’s full water cycle, including raw water treatment, industrial water supply and large-scale water reuse.
The water system is expected to begin operating in August 2028. Dow officials say the Path2Zero expansion project will create the world’s first net-zero emissions integrated ethylene cracker and derivatives site with respect to scope 1 and 2 emissions. Dow says the facility is expected to add approximately 1.8 million metric tonnes of ethylene capacity in a phased manner through 2030 for customers and joint venture partners around the globe.
The project includes a brownfield expansion and retrofit of Dow’s existing manufacturing site in Fort Saskatchewan.
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The agreement also represents a significant expansion of the companies’ longstanding partnership and is designed to reduce freshwater demand through advanced water recycling technologies while ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality process water.
“This agreement represents a major milestone for Xylem,” said Rodney Aulick, executive vice-president and president of Water Solutions and Services at Xylem in a June 8 press release. “It reflects the strength of our long-standing relationship with Dow and the deep trust we’ve built with a key customer over time.”
Xylem said the system will employ multi-stage treatment processes to convert water from cooling and industrial operations into reusable, high-quality supply. The company will be responsible for the complete process design as well as long-term operation of the facility, providing Dow with a single partner accountable for water quality, system performance and supply reliability.
The system will:
- Treat raw water for industrial use;
- Recover and treat water from cooling and industrial processes for reuse; and
- Optimize performance through long-term operational management.
According to Xylem, the system spans a large and complex industrial site and represents a shift toward fully integrated water management models that combine treatment infrastructure with operational accountability.
A key feature of the project is its integrated water reuse capability, which is expected to significantly reduce freshwater withdrawals by transforming process water into a reusable resource.
Xylem said the approach is intended to improve operational resilience while reducing pressure on local water resources. The project also highlights a growing trend toward circular water management strategies in large industrial facilities, where water reuse is increasingly being adopted to address resource constraints and sustainability goals.
