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FOREWORD

Professional Qualifications Standard for Rainwater Catchment Systems Personnel

This foreword shall not be considered a part of the standard. However, it is offered to provide background information.

ASSE International is dedicated to the preservation of public health and safety through the use of proper practices and approved materials.

In 2013, ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 63-2013: Rainwater Catchment Systems, was developed. In 2015, ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 78-2015: Stormwater Harvesting System Design for Direct End-Use Applications, was developed.

With these new standards, the ARCSA Board of Directors approved the development of a professional qualifications standard for rainwater catchment and stormwater harvesting in the areas of designer, installer, and inspector. With the proliferation of residential, commercial, and industrial rainwater and stormwater systems being installed in compliance with adopted codes and building enforcement agencies, there was a request for ASSE International to develop a standard for professionals who work on rainwater/stormwater systems. The result is this voluntary consensus standard - ASSE/ARCSA/IAPMO/ANSI Series 21000, Professional Qualifications Standard for Rainwater Catchment Systems Personnel. These standards will bring best practices for the design and installation of viable alternative water systems utilizing captured rainwater or stormwater into alignment, and potentially bring potable water to areas that have development restrictions, depleted ground or surface water sources, or infrastructure that is unable to deliver suitable water quantities or qualities. These practices reduce the need for long distances of pumping, plumbing, heating, and treating, which in turn can save millions of dollars in energy costs. It will give landscaped and garden areas a source of water to replace the use of potable water for irrigation, and allow for watering during times of drought. It will also provide water for industrial applications where potable water sources were once used, saving millions of dollars in energy costs for producing and pumping clean potable water that would otherwise be wasted in cooling or other processes. Other potential uses for captured rainwater include fire suppression systems, and ground water or aquifer recharge.

This document contains the uniform minimum requirements for qualified designers, installers, and inspectors of rainwater/stormwater catchment systems.