Tarrant Regional Water District receives the Texas Water Development Board’s Texas Rain Catcher Award

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

AUSTIN – (October 5, 2023) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) announced today the recipients of its annual Texas Rain Catcher Award, a rainwater harvesting competition and recognition program. Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) in Fort Worth, Texas, was recognized in the educational 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 critical water-saving practice.

TRWD provided a rain barrel education program to the Marine Creek Land Scholars, a joint venture between Tarrant County College - Northwest Campus and the Fort Worth Independent School District’s Marine Creek Collegiate High School, where they learned about water conservation and rainwater harvesting. Fifteen high school students attended the education program last fall where TRWD provided six 50-gallon barrels, hardware, and gift cards for painting supplies. The students completed and decorated all rain barrels and then hosted a raffle and auction as part of the Tarrant County College Earth Day festival. Through their efforts, they raised $1,250 towards college scholarships for the Land Scholars students.

Using the TWDB’s Municipal Water Conservation Planning Tool, the TRWD estimates the project can save approximately 9,500 gallons of water per year with a 15-year expectancy and, with proper management, can result in approximately 142,500 gallons saved over time. The TRWD plans to continue to offer the program as a unique, hands-on educational opportunity that promotes rainwater harvesting and water conservation.

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. TRWD is one of five awardees being recognized statewide this year.

To learn more about previous Texas Rain Catcher Award winners, visit the TWDB website.

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