TWDB announces the 2014 Texas Rain Catcher Award recipients

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. The award recipients have displayed excellence in rainwater harvesting in Texas in five categories: community, commercial, nonprofit, education, and government.

The 2014 Rain Catcher Award winners are:

• The City of Austin's Twin Oaks Library for conducting a pilot study to demonstrate how internet-enabled, real-time control technology is a cost-effective measure for water conservation and stormwater management.
• The Leadership Montgomery County Class of 2014 for promoting water conservation through rainwater harvesting as its class project.
• Oohla Bean Bed and Breakfast for providing potable water through rainwater harvesting for its guests and developing its facility with rainwater harvesting in mind.-
• RainDrop Harvesting Solutions for developing a portable rainwater harvesting system demonstration that can be transported to schools and events throughout the Brazos Valley.
• The Texas Department of Transportation for developing two rainwater harvesting systems at the Hill County Safety Rest Areas to promote rainwater harvesting and to educate the Texans who pass by each day in more than 60,000 vehicles.

Since the program began in 2007, the TWDB has recognized 27 entities and one individual. For more information on the Texas Rain Catcher Award, please visit the TWDB's website.

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.