Amarillo bank, Lubbock manufacturer receive state recognition for water conservation efforts, April 02, 2019
FirstBank Southwest of Amarillo and Samuel Jackson, Inc. of Lubbock recently received state recognition for their water conservation efforts.
FirstBank Southwest - Texas Rain Catcher Award
FirstBank Southwest received the 2018 Texas Rain Catcher Award at the March 28 Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) meeting in Austin.
Built in 2012, the FirstBank Southwest (FBSW) Western Banking Center is home to one of Amarillo’s larger commercial rainwater harvesting installations.
During a rainfall event, several downspouts channel water from the building’s metal roof to a permeable paver parking lot. Once below the pavers, the water makes its way into an underground tank.
The permeable pavers and underground tank provide a storage capacity of 26,600 gallons of harvested rainwater. That is the equivalent of 99.6 percent of the rainfall collected during a two-year storm event.
The FBSW banking center also uses a xeric landscape and drip irrigation system to help reduce landscape water use.
Created in 2007, the TWDB’s Rain Catcher award program “promotes technology, educates the public, and recognizes excellence in the application of rainwater harvesting systems in Texas.”
Samuel Jackson, Inc. - Blue Legacy Award in Manufacturing
Samuel Jackson, Inc. received the 2019 Blue Legacy Award for Manufacturing during ceremonies at the March 13 Texas Water Day at the Capitol in Austin.
Samuel Jackson, Inc. uses harvested rainwater as an alternative water supply source. The company manufactures moisture control and drying equipment for cotton gins.
As much as 90,000 gallons of rainwater can be stored in tanks at their facility. Plant operations can be sustained on as little as six inches of rainfall per year.
The rainwater harvesting tanks are carefully monitored to determine water use trends. As a result, water use has been reduced by 30 percent.
The filtered rainwater is excellent quality and offers many benefits during the manufacturing process.
Rainwater harvesting reduces dependence upon groundwater. It also allows for greater water use efficiency and sustainability.
The Water Conservation Advisory Council gives this annual award to “recognize manufacturing water users that have demonstrated outstanding and innovating commitment to the state’s mission of promoting responsible management and conservation of Texas’ water resources.”