Restructuring and Asset Impairment Charges (Restructuring Reserve Rollforward) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring accruals		$ 3	$ 12
Severance and other		30	6	$ 26
Cash payments		(16)	(14)	(26)
Other		(2)	(1)
Restructuring accruals		15	3	$ 12
Water Infrastructure
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring accruals		1
Restructuring accruals		5	1
Applied Water
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring accruals		1
Restructuring accruals		5	1
Sensus
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring accruals		0
Restructuring accruals		1	0
Regional Selling Locations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring accruals	[1]	1
Restructuring accruals	[1]	2	1
Corporate and other
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring accruals		0
Restructuring accruals		$ 2	$ 0

[1] Regional selling locations consist primarily of selling and marketing organizations that incurred restructuring expense which was allocated to the segments. The liabilities associated with restructuring expense were not allocated to the segments.