No rain doesn't stop bottling company

SMITHVILLE, Texas (KXAN) - It seems like Mother Nature is being stingy, not wanting to let go of the skies and share the rain in Central Texas.

If that's the case, David Schraub isn't upset with her. He said he has enough rain right now.

"In the last two months we've captured about 20,000 gallons as it actually thunderstorms around, so we get scattered thunderstorms," said Schraub.

When did it storm and who did it rain on? Many Central Texans have actually forgotten what a thunderstorm sounds like. Some parts of the state, including Smithville, an hour east of Austin, did feel a sprinkle or two recently but that's about it.

Schraub is the CEO of Texas Rain , a rainwater bottling company. He calls it healthy gourmet water, the best you can drink.

"It's naturally distilled water, it's very clean, no chemicals are added to it, it's a very clean water," said Schraub.

Schraub said even in this extreme drought his company is doing fine and growing. He doesn't need a lot of rain to fill and sell thousands of  bottles of water. He said it only take about three inches of rain to top off a 12,000-gallon water tank.

"The two years prior to 2009 was another drought that we had for two years and we still got 20-25 inches [of rain] in this area and we only need 10 [inches]. Even in extreme drought, we can still be fine," said Schraub.

When it does rain, Texas Rain captures every drop it can on the roof of the 55,000 square foot warehouse. It goes through a rigorous filtration process to ensure that the water meets all state and federal regulations for water purity.

The company can turn just a few inches into thousands of sellable water bottles. In one month, they said they send out 72,000 bottles of water to their clients, including chain restaurants, drug stores and more than 100 private labels.

Multiply that 72,000 times 12. That equals 864,000 water bottles per year.

Doesn't look like Schraub has to have a lengthy conversation with Mother Nature but he will anyway. A drop of rain never hurt. In fact, every little bit helps.

"I listen for it. It's fantastic. I've been praying for it," said Schraub.