Unpacking the emerging pressures businesses are placing on water systems

Xylem's Mike McGann highlights how only 20% of utilities have adopted smart technologies, despite the mounting pressures of reshoring and onshoring manufacturing in the U.S.
June 10, 2025

Mike McGann, leader of the Measurement & Control Solutions group for Xylem, discusses how macro business trends like onshoring and reshoring are placing significant pressure on water utilities. More specifically, the increased demand for water from data centers and microchip manufacturing plants, which can consume up to 5 million gallons of water daily, is forcing utilities to plan and prepare differently.

Xylem, he said, is positioning itself to help utilities address these challenges by focusing on water reuse solutions. They offer technologies including efficient pumping, advanced treatment, advanced filtration, and disinfection to assist both utility and industrial customers in tackling water reuse problems.

(Editor's note: The descriptoin for this video was written with the assistance of generative AI.)

About the Author

Bob Crossen

Editorial Director

Bob Crossen is the editorial director for WaterWorld Magazine, Wastewater Digest, Stormwater Solutions, and Water Quality Products, which compose the Endeavor Business Media Water Group. Crossen graduated from Illinois State University in Dec. 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in German and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. He has worked in business-to-business journalism covering the drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and point-of-use/point-of-entry markets since April or 2016. Crossen can be reached at [email protected] or 847.954.7980.

Mandy Crispin

Mandy Crispin is the editor-in-chief of WaterWorld magazine and co-host of water industry podcast Talking Under Water. She can be reached at [email protected].  

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