Restructuring and Asset Impairment Charges - Estimated Restructuring Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
2017 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	$ 52
Incurred restructuring costs	50
Expected costs remaining	2
2016 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	16
Incurred restructuring costs	1	$ 15
Expected costs remaining	0
2015 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	23
Incurred restructuring costs	2	4	$ 11
Expected costs remaining	6
Operating Segments | Water Infrastructure | 2017 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	19
Incurred restructuring costs	18
Expected costs remaining	1
Operating Segments | Water Infrastructure | 2016 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	8
Incurred restructuring costs	1	7
Expected costs remaining	0
Operating Segments | Water Infrastructure | 2015 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	12
Incurred restructuring costs	1	2	5
Expected costs remaining	4
Operating Segments | Applied Water | 2017 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	5
Incurred restructuring costs	5
Expected costs remaining	0
Operating Segments | Applied Water | 2016 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	1
Incurred restructuring costs	0	1
Expected costs remaining	0
Operating Segments | Applied Water | 2015 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	7
Incurred restructuring costs	0	1	4
Expected costs remaining	2
Operating Segments | Measurement & Control Solutions | 2017 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	28
Incurred restructuring costs	27
Expected costs remaining	1
Operating Segments | Measurement & Control Solutions | 2016 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	7
Incurred restructuring costs	0	7
Expected costs remaining	0
Operating Segments | Measurement & Control Solutions | 2015 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	4
Incurred restructuring costs	1	1	2
Expected costs remaining	0
Corporate | 2017 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	0
Incurred restructuring costs	0
Expected costs remaining	0
Corporate | 2016 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	0
Incurred restructuring costs	0	0
Expected costs remaining	0
Corporate | 2015 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	0
Incurred restructuring costs	0	$ 0	$ 0
Expected costs remaining	$ 0