Texas Border Business
WESLACO, Texas – Hidalgo County Precinct 1 in collaboration with Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 has won a statewide water harvesting award called the Texas Rain Catcher Award. The prestigious award is given annually by the Texas Water Development Board to promote technology, educate the public and recognize excellence in the application of rainwater harvesting systems.
The state agency selected Precinct 1’s Delta Reclamation Project for one of four 2023 Texas Rain Catcher Awards. Precinct 1 won in the Educational/Governmental division.
The Delta Reclamation Project is pioneering water reclamation by reducing dependency on conventional water systems. Working in conjunction with Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1, the Project recaptures water from hundreds of miles of drainage ditches and creates a new regional source of water while lessening the water dependency on the Rio Grande. Part of the Project involves the creation of a 225-acre reservoir that not only facilitates water reclamation but helps the region with drainage.
“This award shows that the rest of the state recognizes some of the innovative thinking that Hidalgo County is demonstrating,” said Precinct 1 Commissioner David L. Fuentes. “Preliminary studies suggest the Delta Reclamation Project has the potential to generate new revenue that could eventually self-fund future drainage projects.”
The award will be presented to Commissioner Fuentes and the Drainage District in October during a meeting of the Texas Water Development Board.
