Oohla Bean Bed and Breakfast receives TWDB-s Texas Rain Catcher Award

For immediate release. Contact: Media Relations at 512-463-5129

AUSTIN – (May 6, 2015) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) announced today the recipients of its annual Texas Rain Catcher Award, a rainwater harvesting competition and recognition program. Oohla Bean, a bed and breakfast and event center, was recognized in the Commercial category.

The TWDB's Texas Rain Catcher Award recognizes excellence in the application of rainwater harvesting systems in Texas, promotes rainwater harvesting technology, and educates the public on this important water-saving practice.

With the help of HA Architecture and Innovative Water Solutions, Oohla Bean, located in Driftwood, Texas, was built with rainwater harvesting in mind. The roof on the individual suites and buildings is constructed in a butterfly style so that rainwater collects in a center gutter before being routed to the edge of the buildings. From there, rainwater drains into several architecturally decorative columns that are connected to the rainwater collection piping system.

The system includes a 65,000-gallon corrugated metal tank and 1,000 feet of piping. The system is designed to supply all the potable water needs of guests at Oohla Bean and is expected to be self-sufficient during most years of rainfall in Central Texas. The innovative approach to providing potable water through rainwater harvesting has helped to preserve the groundwater resources in the Texas Hill Country.

The Texas Rain Catcher Award competition began in 2007 and is open to all individuals, companies, organizations, municipalities, and other local and state governmental entities in Texas. It recognizes entities and individuals in the rainwater harvesting community and beyond and establishes award recipients as dedicated water conservation leaders in Texas. Oohla Bean is one of five awardees being recognized statewide this year.

The TWDB is the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional planning, and preparing the state water plan for the development of the state's water resources. The TWDB administers cost-effective financial assistance programs for the construction of water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control, and agricultural water conservation projects.