The Do/Peters-Do residence 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 Do/Peters-Do residence was recognized in the residential 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 Do/Peters-Do family residence is located south of Austin in an area with marginal groundwater supplies. With the goal of long-term water security, the Do/Peters-Do family decided to invest in a rainwater harvesting system as the primary potable water supply for their residence.

The system collects rainwater into a 31,000-gallon corrugated metal cistern from approximately 3,000 square feet of roof area. The house includes a mechanical room, where the water is filtered and receives ultraviolet treatment that cleans and disinfects. The family also installed a manifold valve system to utilize groundwater from a private well in the event the rainwater cistern ever runs dry.

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 Do/Peters-Do residence 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.