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W&L to Show the Documentary “Who Owns Water”

Washington and Lee University will have a screening of the award-winning documentary “Who Owns Water” on March 8 at 7 p.m. in Stackhouse Theater, Elrod Commons.

The film is free and open to the public. It will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker David Hanson, Washington and Lee Class of 2000.

“Who Owns Water” is a 50-minute film telling the story of a water crisis in Georgia, Florida and Alabama. Hanson paddled from the source of the Chattahoochee, Flint and Apalachicola Rivers to the sea.

Florida is suing Georgia in an interstate water battle concerning the rivers in the film. Interstate lawsuits require that the U.S. Supreme Court appoint a special master to consider the various arguments and offer some form of advice.

“The water wars date back over two decades,” Hanson said. “It’s a well-rounded, liberal-arts dilemma, involving politics, law, hydrology, biology, agriculture, city planning, recreation and the full spectrum of free-market industry from giant energy corporations to family-owned oyster businesses.”

The showing is sponsored by University Lectures, the Geology Department and the Outing Club. See the film’s trailer at www.whoownswater.org.