San Antonio — During a formal signing ceremony at their co-located 19th Annual Meeting and 94th annual Education and Business Conference in San Antonio, Texas, the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) officially joined the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO®). ARCSA will be renamed “ARCSA International,” allowing the organization to maintain its identity while becoming a discrete business unit of The IAPMO Group.
In June, ARCSA’s Board of Directors and membership voted in favor of joining The IAPMO Group, with the co-located annual events providing an ideal backdrop for the finalization.
Formed by the merger of two Texas-based professional rainwater catchment associations—the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association and the Texas Rainwater Catchment Systems Association—with the mission to “provide resources and information on rainwater and stormwater collection to promote the advancement of rainwater conservation and to work with government at all levels in promoting rainwater and stormwater management,” ARCSA in 2016 was reorganized as a 501(c6) organization and the original ARCSA became the ARCSA Foundation, a 501(c3) organization.
“We believe IAPMO’s sharp focus on water conservation and water security will enable ARCSA to advance the cause of rainwater harvesting on the national and international stages more effectively,” said ARCSA President Roman Feher. “We came here a lone wolf and now we’re part of the wolfpack.”
Founded in Los Angeles in 1926, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) has grown to be recognized the world over for its Uniform Codes. Through its various business units, The IAPMO Group participates worldwide in product testing and certification, codes and standards development, management systems certification, and education, training and personnel certification.
“IAPMO and ARCSA have long worked toward common objectives from unique positions in the water conservation industry,” said IAPMO CEO Dave Viola. “Consolidating our work makes both organizations far more capable stewards of this vital natural resource and the means to capture and utilize it safely.”
In 2012, IAPMO and ARCSA signed a memorandum of understanding to “enhance the wellbeing of people everywhere through the provision of safe, efficient, and affordable rainwater harvesting and plumbing systems and equipment.” The product of this cooperation, ASSE/ARCSA/IAPMO/ANSI Series 21000 was first published as an American National Standard in 2017 to address the increasing number of residential, commercial, and industrial rainwater and stormwater systems being installed nationwide. Updated in 2022, Series 21000 establishes best practices and uniform minimum requirements for qualified designers, installers, and inspectors of viable alternative water systems utilizing captured rainwater or stormwater.
