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Friday, January 9, 2026 at 11:38 PM

‘Water Masters’ documentary highlights local water issues

‘Water Masters’ documentary highlights local water issues
Benjamin Shawcroft, general manager of the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District (left), and
NCWR Director Sage Hiibel discuss water use in “Water Masters,” a new documentary by
Emmy-winning director Dan Druhora.

As population growth and industrial needs increase the demand for water, researchers at the College of Engineering’s Nevada Center for Water Resiliency (NCWR) seek solutions. The issues are highlighted in a new 30-minute documentary, “Water Masters,” which premiered in December at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Produced by Emmy-winning director Dan Druhora, “Water Masters” explores water use along the Truckee River Watershed, the water system connecting Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake. The film examines the concept of upstream and downstream users, highlighting how population growth and the expansion of industry, such as new data centers that require water for cooling, increase water needs.

“I think what I would like people to take from ‘Water Masters’ is just how important water is, and how precious it is,” NCWR director Sage Hiibel said.

Established in 2023 with a grant from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), the NCWR researches and tests new technologies in water treatment, focusing on non-potable (drinking) water reclaimed from a variety of water resources. Hiibel, a chemical engineering associate professor, focuses on water reuse in the industrial sector, while other NCWR researchers address such topics as advanced water treatment or the quantification and characterization of emerging contaminants.

“Water Masters” is the third in a four-part documentary series, “Flowing Forward,” which explores water research at the University of Southern California, University of Arizona, and the Army ERDC. View it on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/1129685525?fl=pl&fe=cm 


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