'Regional Solutions for Local Needs' Premieres in May.

13th Episode of the "California's Water" Series

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- "Regional Solutions for Local Needs," the 13th episode of the "California's Water" public television series produced by Huell Howser, started airing in May on KCET. It will then be available to air statewide on PBS and public access stations. Check your local listings for details.

"The era of cooperation is with us," said Rob Alcott, engineer, East Bay Municipal Utility District. "We can do things more efficiently, we can do things together that we can't do alone," said Alcott.

This segment, sponsored by Mojave Water Agency, shows the power of cooperation, as water agencies work together across service boundaries to solve issues through partnerships and joint ventures. Regional projects showcased in this segment include: the creation of an emergency water supply for 200,000 Bay Area residents; the usage reclaimed wastewater to restore 800 acres of wetland habitat; and the construction of a six-month water reserve for Southern California residents.

Huell makes three stops in his latest adventure: the Hayward emergency interconnection linking San Francisco and the East Bay's water supply systems; Pond 7 wetland restoration project in Sonoma County; and Diamond Valley Reservoir in Southern California. At each stop Huell and project experts discuss the merits of each project and how they are helping to solve local problems.

Partnerships between water agencies, environmental groups, local governments and state and federal agencies are an important tool in solving regional issues. Water agencies are working together to fulfill local needs by creating partnerships spanning service areas, district boundaries and county lines to solve common problems.

In each "California's Water" segment, Howser visits features of California's water system and gets an up-close look at various water management tools and challenges facing the state's water future.

Segment titles include:

* Regional Solutions for Local Needs (First aired May 2007)

* Climate Change (First aired April 2006)

* The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (First aired May 2006)

* The Flood Fight of 2006 (First aired June 2006)

* Storing Water (First aired July 2006)

* What's New on the Colorado River (First aired Aug. 2006)

* Using Water Wisely (First aired Sept. 2006)

* Watersheds (First aired Oct. 2006)

* Desalting Water (First aired Nov. 2006)

* Sacramento Valley: Working Together Pays Off (First aired Jan. 2007)

* California's Water System (First aired Jan. 2007)

* Water Recycling Imitates Nature (First aired March 2007)

* Protecting Against Floods (First aired April 2007)

* Living with Nature (Still to be produced)

* Moving Water and Meeting Needs (Still to be produced)

An updated list of air dates and times is available on www.acwa.com.

The series, underwritten by members of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), covers issues identified in ACWA's comprehensive policy document, "No Time to Waste: A Blueprint for California Water." The document, released in 2005, recommends a suite of actions and investments to ensure California has the water supply system it will need in future decades.

ACWA's members believe educating the public on water issues is critical and are taking that commitment seriously by underwriting the "California's Water" series.

ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose 440 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more information, visit www.acwa.com.