Background and Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Background and Basis of Presentation	Background and Basis of Presentation Background Xylem Inc. ("Xylem" or the "Company") is a leading equipment and service provider for water and wastewater applications with a broad portfolio of products and services addressing the full cycle of water, from collection, distribution and use to the return of water to the environment. Xylem was incorporated in Indiana on May 4, 2011. Xylem operates in two segments, Water Infrastructure and Applied Water. The Water Infrastructure segment focuses on the transportation, treatment and testing of water, offering a range of products including water and wastewater pumps, treatment and testing equipment, and controls and systems. The Applied Water segment serves many of the primary uses of water and focuses on the residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural markets. The Applied Water segment’s major products include pumps, valves, heat exchangers, controls and dispensing equipment. Except as otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, "Xylem," "we," "us," "our" and the "Company" refer to Xylem Inc. and its subsidiaries. Basis of Presentation The interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect our financial position and results of operations in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). All intercompany transactions between our businesses have been eliminated. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the periods presented. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such SEC rules. We believe that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. We consistently applied the accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 ("2015 Annual Report") in preparing these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, with the exception of accounting standard updates described in Note 2. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in our 2015 Annual Report. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are revised as additional information becomes available. Estimates and assumptions are used for, but not limited to, postretirement obligations and assets, revenue recognition, income tax contingency accruals and valuation allowances, goodwill and indefinite lived intangible impairment testing and contingent liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Our quarterly financial periods end on the Saturday closest to the last day of the calendar quarter, except for the fourth quarter which ends on December 31. For ease of presentation, the condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are described as ending on the last day of the calendar quarter.

Background and Basis of Presentation

Background

Xylem Inc. ("Xylem" or the "Company") is a leading equipment and service provider for water and wastewater applications with a broad portfolio of products and services addressing the full cycle of water, from collection, distribution and use to the return of water to the environment. Xylem was incorporated in Indiana on May 4, 2011.

Xylem operates in two segments, Water Infrastructure and Applied Water. The Water Infrastructure segment focuses on the transportation, treatment and testing of water, offering a range of products including water and wastewater pumps, treatment and testing equipment, and controls and systems. The Applied Water segment serves many of the primary uses of water and focuses on the residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural markets. The Applied Water segment’s major products include pumps, valves, heat exchangers, controls and dispensing equipment.

Except as otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, "Xylem," "we," "us," "our" and the "Company" refer to Xylem Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Basis of Presentation

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect our financial position and results of operations in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). All intercompany transactions between our businesses have been eliminated.

The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the periods presented. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such SEC rules. We believe that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. We consistently applied the accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 ("2015 Annual Report") in preparing these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, with the exception of accounting standard updates described in Note 2. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in our 2015 Annual Report.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are revised as additional information becomes available. Estimates and assumptions are used for, but not limited to, postretirement obligations and assets, revenue recognition, income tax contingency accruals and valuation allowances, goodwill and indefinite lived intangible impairment testing and contingent liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Our quarterly financial periods end on the Saturday closest to the last day of the calendar quarter, except for the fourth quarter which ends on December 31. For ease of presentation, the condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are described as ending on the last day of the calendar quarter.