It is out of sight and out of mind, but America's aging water system is in dire need of an overhaul. Penn State Public Broadcasting (WPSU-TV) is set to premiere a public television event on the looming crisis underneath our feet and how communities are trying to meet this challenge. "Liquid Assets: The Story of Our Water Infrastructure," tells of America's distressed essential infrastructure systems: drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater. These complex and aging systems-some in the ground for more than 150 years-are critical components for basic sanitation, health, public safety, economic development, and a host of other necessities of life. A four-minute trailer is available for viewing now at http://liquidassets.psu.edu online.

Liquid Assets rebroadcast for Earth Day
April 19th, 1:30 – 3 p.m. on channel 5.1

Calendar of Community Events

February 17 - 18, 2009
UF Engineering Fair underwriting
Reitz Union at Univ. of FL

March 7, 2009
Springs/River clean-up
NW Boat Ramp Road, High Springs, FL
Map

Links to Local Resources
Alachua County Resources
Springs Resources
Educational Resources Grades 6 – 12
Free Educational Resources for K - 12 teachers:
Raindrops to Rivers: Multimedia Educator Resources on Water Quality

Raindrops to Rivers (http://www.raindropstorivers.org/) is a project produced jointly by KET, the Kentucky Division of Water and the Kentucky Department of Education, that develops resources on water quality for teaching and learning environments. The site includes instructional videos for students: an electronic field trip to a watershed and a full-length documentary, Common Ground and Cleaner Water. The teachers and students appearing in the videos are engaged in authentic activities, in both indoor and outdoor classrooms and at streams, creeks, and other watersheds. In addition to presenting engaging science lessons, the resource features collaborations between science and other content area.

"Liquid Assets" is a production of WPSU, Penn State Public Broadcasting. Executive Producer: Tom Keiter. Project Director: Melanie Doebler. Producer: Stephanie Ayanian. Writers/Directors: Stephanie Ayanian and Mark Cooper. Project Manager: Elaine Brzycki. Director of Photography: Ryan Witt. Editor: Greg Feinberg.

Major funding for the "Liquid Assets" documentary was provided by the Colcom Foundation, with additional funding from the Associated General Contractors of America, the American Society of Civil Engineers and its Environmental & Water Resources Institute, Insituform Technologies, and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.

Support for community outreach efforts was provided by National Association of Water Companies, Water Environment Federation, Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association, 3 Rivers Wet Weather, American Public Works Association, American Water Works Association, CH2M HILL, Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association, Gannett Fleming, National Association of Sewer Service Companies, National Utility Contractors Association, Northwest Pipe Company, and Plastics Pipe Institute.

"Liquid Assets" will also be available on DVD on through Penn State Media Sales for $24.95 plus shipping and handling. It can be ordered by calling 1-800-770-2111 or by visiting http://mediasales.psu.edu.

Contact Pam Shamel, pshamel@wuft.org or 352-392-5551 x1134 for further information.