This year, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering debuted the first three episodes of “Flowing Forward,” a new series of documentary short films that capture the “challenges and solutions shaping the sustainable water supply for our expanding cities.”

Each roughly 30-minute episode is directed by Daniel Druhora, who received a 2021 Emmy Award for “Lives, Not Grades.” That earlier documentary film, acquired by PBS, depicted a team of USC students traveling to the Moria Camp in Greece — at the time known as “the worst refugee camp on earth” — to design and build innovations that can improve the lives of the refugees fleeing wars and natural disasters.

In “Flowing Forward,” the focus shifts to water sustainability, reuse, public health and innovative solutions to address L.A.’s future water challenges.

The series is part of the activities of USC Viterbi’s ReWater Center (Water ReUse and Resource Recovery Center), led by Professor Amy Childress.

 

Watch “Flowing Forward”

 

Episode 1: “Mountaintop to Metropolis”

In the first episode of the series, water researcher Dan McCurry travels to the eastern Sierra Nevada to trace the origins of Los Angeles’ water supply and examine innovative solutions for future sourcing. As traditional sources dwindle, he explores new technologies and sustainable practices that could answer the vital question: “As our traditional sources dry up, where will L.A. get its water from in the future?”

 

Episode 2: “Shared Water”

In “Shared Water,” scientist Kerri Hickenbottom delves into the intricate web of partnerships that sustain life along the Colorado River, uncovering how collaboration between communities, industries and ecosystems transforms this vital waterway into a lifeline for the arid West.

 

Episode 3: “The Water Masters”

In “The Water Masters,” Eric Marchand and Sage Hiibel navigate the complex balance of water rights, conservation and innovation in Reno, Nevada. From the crystalline depths of Lake Tahoe to the sacred waters of Pyramid Lake, they explore how ingenuity and stewardship sustain these interconnected waterways and the communities that depend on them.

 

Episode 4: “Guardians of the River”

As floods, droughts, and rising risks threaten the lifeblood of the nation, Guardians of the River follows the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the scientists at the Engineer Research and Development Center as they work to protect the Mississippi River. Blending science, strategy, and service, the episode reveals how this often-unseen force is engineering the future of water security in America.