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Sycamore Springs Elementary/Middle School receives the Texas Water Development Board's Texas Rain Catcher Award

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

AUSTIN – (March 21, 2018) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) announced today the recipients of its annual Texas Rain Catcher Award, a rainwater harvesting competition and recognition program. Sycamore Springs Elementary/Middle School was recognized in the educational/governmental - school 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.

The rainwater harvesting system used by Sycamore Springs Elementary/Middle School of the Dripping Springs Independent School District consists of three components. Two components are used for toilet flushing and the third is used for irrigating the school grounds.

Toilet flushing is typically a high-use item for a school, and the district views using harvested rainwater as the perfect opportunity to reduce its municipal water demand. Each of the two toilet flushing components consists of a 15,000-gallon metal cistern, 500-gallon-per-day tank, sand filter, UV disinfection system, and variable speed pump. They are equipped with auto-fill systems that use the municipal water source as a backup during times of low rainfall. These systems have the combined potential to harvest 200,000 gallons of water during an average year.

The third system component harvests rainwater to irrigate school grounds and consists of a 10,000-gallon cistern, internal-tank recirculating pump, sand filtration system element, and variable speed pump. The system is sized to capture 160,000 gallons in an average year and has an auto-fill system that uses municipal water as a backup.

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. Sycamore Springs Elementary/Middle School 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.