The Grand Prairie Armed Forces Reserve Complex receives the Texas Water Development Board's Texas Rain Catcher Award

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

AUSTIN – (March 28, 2019) – 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 Grand Prairie Armed Forces Reserve Complex was recognized in the educational/governmental 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.

As part of a strategic plan developed by the Army Reserve to reduce dependence on potable water for operations that can use non-potable water, the Grand Prairie Army Reserve Complex developed a rainwater harvesting system in 2017 for vehicle wash operations at its main vehicle maintenance shop.

The Army Reserve and partners at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory used water security data and geospatial data, such as vehicle wash locations, rainfall data, watershed vulnerability, and water demand to determine the best locations for using rainwater harvesting for vehicle washing. Grand Prairie was one of two pilot sites chosen nationwide to test the effectiveness and maintenance requirements of rainwater collection systems.

Prior to system installation, potable water was used to wash vehicles. Now that the system is operating and able to use the collected rainfall to wash vehicles, the Army Reserve site has experienced an overall reduction in potable water consumption. The site has saved 34,250 gallons of potable water since the system was installed in 2017.

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. The Grand Prairie Armed Forces Reserve Complex is one of four 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.