Texas Rain Catcher Award recognizes innovative rainwater systems Posted on March 12, 2025
Spring and summer in Texas during periods of drought often come with watering restrictions, which can prove challenging for homeowners trying to maintain their landscapes or home gardens as temperatures rise. To keep plants thriving while staying mindful of water use, many have turned to a practice that’s been used for centuries—rainwater harvesting.
Rainwater harvesting is a valuable conservation strategy and drought-resilience tool that can reduce the demand on local public water supplies by providing an alternative water source for a variety of beneficial uses. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has recognized homeowners, businesses, municipalities, and other organizations for their rainwater harvesting efforts with the Texas Rain Catcher Award since 2007, and applications for this year’s competition are currently being accepted through June 30.
Shae Luther, who has overseen the TWDB’s Rain Catcher Award program since 2020, says she sees increased interest in rainwater harvesting during and after water emergencies like extreme drought or winter storms. By installing a rainwater harvesting system, homeowners and organizations have access to an alternative water source without relying solely on municipal water.
Len and Donna Gabbay were recognized with the Texas Rain Catcher Award in the residential category in 2024 for their at-home rainwater harvesting system in Lockhart. The Gabbay residence uses a 10,000-gallon rainwater harvesting system for a vegetable garden, fruit orchard, and flower garden on their 1-acre lot. The surface area of the gardens and their use of Hügelkultur beds helps redirect and hold water on the property to reduce runoff and eliminate flooding. The collected rainwater provides all the water necessary for irrigating their gardens throughout the year, reducing dependency on municipal water.
“When Len and I created Prairie Lea Gardens, we knew we wanted to create a space that was not just beautiful but also resilient and regenerative. Central Texas weather can be extreme—long dry spells followed by intense rain—and I saw an opportunity to work with nature instead of against it,” said Donna Gabbay. “Rainwater harvesting felt like a natural extension of our permaculture approach, allowing us to nurture our gardens without putting extra strain on the local water supply.”
For those interested in exploring rainwater harvesting, the Gabbays recommend first observing your property and noticing how water moves across the land to help determine where to place barrels, tanks, or swales. They say it’s okay to start small in the beginning because even a few rain barrels under downspouts can make an impactful difference.
“Harvesting rainwater connects you to the rhythm of nature in such a beautiful way. There’s something magical about watching a storm roll in, knowing your system is capturing that gift for later use,” Gabbay said.
To learn more about other past Texas Rain Catcher Award winners, visit the TWDB website.
Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting
- Alleviates demand on municipal water sources
- Provides relatively pure water for plants and lawns
- Reduces stormwater runoff
- Saves money on water bills
This article is posted in Drought / Conservation / Rainwater Harvesting .