ARCSA Information (American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association)
The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1994 by Dr. Hari J. Krishna in Austin, Texas, to promote rainwater catchment systems in the United States. Our memberships consists of professionals working in city, state, and federal government, academia, manufacturers and suppliers of rainwater harvesting equipment, consultants, and other interested individuals. Membership is not limited to the United States, and we encourage all rainwater harvesting enthusiasts to join our organization.
Today, over 650 people from around the world are ARCSA members, and ARCSA has offered many exceptional educational opportunities such as rainwater harvesting seminars, accreditation workshops and conferences featuring some of the leading professionals in RWH.
ARCSA’s Mission Statement:
The Mission of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association is to promote sustainable rainwater-harvesting practices to help solve potable, non-potable, stormwater and energy challenges throughout the world.
News and Information
June 2010: RWH News
- The Structure of H2O Click here for more information
May 2010: RWH News
- International Green Construction Code Click here for more information
- Green Plumbing Code Supplement from the International Green Building Code
Public Comment Requested Click here for more information - Georgia Legislature – methodology on RWH Click here for more information
March 2010: Legislative Advances, RWH in the News
- The ARCSA office is moving! Click here for more information.
- Coca-Cola donates soda syrup drums to harvest rainwater
- Illinois Senate passes Rainwater Harvesting for Non-Potable Uses bill
- Georgia resident speaks before House Natural Resources Committee to promote rainwater harvesting
- Leaders in industry discuss water and sustainability issues
- Utah close to legalizing personal collection of rainwater
- IAPMO releases Green Plumbing and Mechanical Code Supplement
February 2010: Legislative Advances, RWH in the News
- Rainwater harvesting takes off in Tucson
- Drought creating extra business for Hawaii water haulers
- RWH included among green initiatives at 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver
- Community action groups gaining ground in water conservation
- Testa Produce aims to become first food distributor to occupy a LEED Platinum certified warehouse
- Illinois Forest Reserve turns to rainwater harvesting
- Utah senate passes bill legalizing small RWH systems
- City of Los Angeles may get mandatory rainwater harvesting law
January 2010: Legislative Advances, RWH in the News
- Utah Senator pushing to legalize rainwater collection
- Design twist turns bus shelters into rainwater harvesting system
- Ten strategies to promote rainwater harvesting
- Australian water crisis offers clues for California
- Sustainable baseball? Minnesota Twins turn to RWH
- Climate change impacting California’s water availability
- ARCSA opens call for papers for 2010 National Conference
Rainwater Harvesting Resources & Publications
Links
California’s Claimed Water Resources Education and Policy Center (478 pages, EPA/625/R-04/108 September 2004; may take several minutes to download)
California Climate Action Team – Water-Energy Subgroup
California Green Building Standards
Calculate Your Water Footprint
City of Austin, Texas Rain Barrel Program
European Rainwater Catchment Systems Association on Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation website, in association with Canadian Water and Wastewater Association
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
Harvest H20 – Online RWH Community
Hawaii Rainwater Catchment Systems Association
International Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (IRCSA)
Rainwater Harvesting in Washington State
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Rainwater Harvesting Program
Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas A&M University System
TAMU Publication: Rainwater Harvesting: Soil Storage and Infiltration System
TAMU Publication: Rainwater Harvesting: Raingardens
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
TCEQ Guide: Rainwater Harvesting
Texas Water Development Board Rainwater Harvesting (TWDB)
UK Rainwater Harvesting Association
U.S. Average Annual Precipitation Maps
Using Rainwater to Grow Livable Communities
Publications
The following publications and articles contain useful information related to rainwater harvesting systems.
8 Principles for Successful Rainwater Harvesting
View article by ARCSA member Brad Lancaster at The Oil Drum
Canadian Guidelines for Household Reclaimed Water for Use in Toilet and Urinal Flushing
View article on Health Canada website
Canadian Technical Series 03-100: Rainwater Harvesting and Grey Water Reuse
View article
Collecting and Utilizing Rainfall Runoff: A Homeowner’s Manual of Ideas for Harvesting Rainwater (Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District, Virginia)
Download PDF from TJSWCD website (32 pages, 4MB)
EPA Brochures on Rainwater Harvesting and Rain Gardens
Municipal Handbook: Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure
Municipal Handbook: Rainwater Harvesting Policies
Build your own rain barrel
Water conservation including rain barrels
Clean Water Campaign
Greenscaping with rain barrels
TAPP Guide to a Water-Friendly Yard
How To build a rain garden
Rain garden design and costs
TAPP rain garden planting guide
Tips for a productive rain garden
EPA Green Infrastructure Management
View Article
Furrow dikes maximize irrigation and rainfall benefits
Download PDF (Reprinted from “The Cross Section,” Vol. 50, No. 2, February 2004)
Georgia Rainwater Harvesting Guidelines
Download PDF (59 pages, 65 MB)
Greener Pastures for America’s Homebuilders? A Survey of Sustainable Practices by the Homebuilding Industry
Download PDF of white paper (16 pages, by the Calvert Group, Ltd., with collaboration from the Boston College Institute for Responsible Investment)
Harvesting Rainwater for Landscape Use
View article on University of Arizona website
Is Rainwater Harvesting For You? Do the Math.
View article on Planet Green website
Master’s Thesis: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Rainwater Harvesting at Commercial Facilities in Arlington County, Virginia
View thesis by Bill Hicks, PE, of Duke University
Policies and Incentives for Rainwater Harvesting in Malaysia
Download PDF
Proposed Rules & Regulations Pertaining to Private Drinking Water Systems
Download PDF (40 pages, Rhode Island Department of Health)
Rainwater as a Resource: A Report on Three Sites Demonstrating Sustainable Stormwater Management
Download PDF (56 pages, from the Tree People website)
Rainwater Collection Information for San Juan County, Washington
View article on Washington State Department of Ecology website
Rain Harvesting & Water Recycling Task Force Report
Download PDF (64 pages, Texas Residential Construction Commission)
Rainwater Harvesting: A Community’s Technology for Coping with Climate Change
Download PDF (8 pages, from the Raindrop newsletter)
Rainwater Harvesting – A Win-Win Option
Download PDF (3 pages, Originally published in “Texas Watch” newsletter, Texas State University, Winter 2004)
Safe Water Systems for the Developing World: Implementing Household-Based Water Treatment and Safe Storage Programs, developed by the Centers for Disease Control
Ceramic filtration
Flocculant treatment
Household chlorination
Safe water system
The Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting (Texas Water Development Board)
Download PDF from TWDB website (88 pages, 2MB)
USEPA Guidelines for Water Reuse
Download PDF
Virginia Rainwater Harvesting Manual
View PDF on Cabell Brand Center website (58 pages, 3MB)
Water Efficiency in Austin, TX Journal Article
Download PDF
Water Harvesting Guidance Manual
View article and download PDFs on City of Tucson website
Water Quality in Kentucky: Cisterns for Kentucky (J. L. Taraba et al., 1990).
View Article on U of K website (University of Kentucky publication)
Other Publications Available in Members Only Section
