Residents in Pomona Valley, Walnut Valley and eastern San Gabriel Valley may be eligible to receive a free "smart" controller for their landscape sprinkler systems through a unique program created to introduce the latest in water-savings technology.

Customers of participating local water agencies who are ready to exchange their old controller for a free state-of-the-art model. Only 200 controllers will be distributed to registered participants. Residents without a reservation, without their old controller and without a copy of their water bill will be turned away.

The smart controller giveaway is sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and Three Valleys, with grant funding from Proposition 13 through the California Department of Water Resources.

The smart controller swap is part of a regional effort to heighten awareness of smart controllers and other new water-saving devices now being rebated by Metropolitan and its member agencies. For more information, log onto bewaterwise.com, a Web site sponsored by Metropolitan and the Family of Southern California Water Agencies.