ABOUT ARCSA
Providing expertise and standards with access to leading news and advancements in rainwater catchment technology
OUR HISTORY
There were originally two professional rainwater catchment associations, both based in Texas – The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA), and the The Texas Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (TRCA). In 2016, TRCA was reorganized as ARCSA – a 501(c6) organization, and the original ARCSA became the ARCSA Foundation – a 501(c3) organization. ARCSA has now become ARCSA International with an ARCSA Education and Research Council.
OUR ROOTS
In 1994, Dr. Hari J. Krishna of Austin, Texas founded the 501(c)(3) non-profit American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) to bring renewed attention to the ancient practice of rainwater harvesting. For thousands of years collecting rainwater was a common method for providing water, but over the last century, wells and municipal water supplies took over as primary water sources. The diminishing supply of fresh water in wells and aquifers, concerns of quality and population growth are among the top reasons for the resurgence of rainwater catchment.The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) was created to promote sustainable rainwater harvesting practices throughout the United States and the world.
Our top promotional efforts include: creating a favorable regulatory atmosphere, creating a resource pool and educating professionals and the general public regarding safe rainwater design, installation and maintenance practices. A board of nine directors steers the initiatives of ARCSA and is augmented by regional directors located in various parts of the United States as well as in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Europe. Together these directors spearhead community outreach, conferences, workshops and membership promotion to raise awareness.
Being a worldwide organization, ARCSA funds a virtual hub at www.arcsa.org. This cyber home offers the public a vast array of information and resources including a project gallery, workshop calendar, course agendas, professional location directory, and more. ARCSA is a membership-based organization whose benefits include access to leading news about the technology and advancements in rainwater catchment. The site establishes a forum for members to share and gain knowledge about the growing industry. Members include professionals working in city, state, and federal government, academia, manufacturers and suppliers of rainwater harvesting equipment, consultants, as well as backyard amateurs and other interested individuals. This grass-roots organization is on the leading edge of the rainwater harvesting industry. While the spotlight shines brightly on the issue of alternative energy and general sustainability, ARCSA is providing the much-needed expertise and standards to integrate rainwater harvesting back into a prominent role providing water for potable and nonpotable purposes. ARCSA is the first organization to create training and certification for professionals in the rainwater harvesting industry, and has created a suite of training products that can lead to “Accreditation” and our post-graduate level “Certified Professional” status.
ARCSA’s rapid growth is explained by an awakening that harvested rainwater can '…help solve potable, nonpotable, stormwater and energy challenges…'
TEN QUESTIONS WITH HEATHER KINKADE
Executive Director, American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA)
Article orignally appeared on the Working Pressure website | By Janice McNellis -June 30, 2022
In each issue of Working Pressure, we ask 10 questions to a training coordinator or instructor of an ASSE-approved training provider. Some questions are work related, some are personal, and others are just for fun. We learn our trade through local colleagues, mentors, and instructors, but what can we learn from others across the country? Let’s learn about the people we learn from. In this issue, we’ll get to know Heather Kinkade, Executive Director of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA).
If you’d like us to ask 10 questions to your ASSE-approved training coordinator or instructor, send us a note telling us why at editor@workingpressuremag.com.
I have been with ARCSA from the beginning — 28 years ago. I have held every position in the organization at one time or another — from president to secretary to committee member. For the past 10 years, I have been the Executive Director. I was the president of ARCSA from 2005 to 2007.
I have a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Master of Environmental Planning, and a two-year certificate in sustainability. I have worked in land use planning with a specialty in auto mall designs. In that field, dealerships kept pushing for more land to display cars, and as a designer, we had to have detention and retention basins. I looked into ways of putting water under ground and found rainwater harvesting. My master’s thesis ended up being an award-winning book — “Forgotten Rain” — which was later released by a Canadian publisher with the name, “Design for Water.”
After we ran the “Accredited Professional” program for a few years, I really felt that we needed a third-party, closed-book certification to move ARCSA to the next level of professionalism. We were able to work with ASSE to develop the ASSE/ARCSA/IAPMO/ANSI Series 21000, Professional Qualifications Standard for Rainwater Catchment Systems Personnel.
We are a very focused association and only deal with rainwater and stormwater. Right now, we offer designer, installer, and inspector classes for rainwater catchment personnel. Our inspector class also includes stormwater catchment.
I have to quote the ARCSA International Vision Statement:
VISION STATEMENT
ARCSA envisions a world where every person can learn how to conserve water and then harvest, maintain, and beneficially use rainwater and stormwater through the use of a range of safe and effective rain catchment strategies.
I would like to see more people in control of their own water supply. Nowadays, people have no idea where their water comes from, how it’s treated, or even what goes in it. Utilizing rainwater, and other onsite generated waters, gives people water independence and the freedom and control to maintain their own water supply—and related to potable water—what they are putting into their body.
We offer workshops where we train people and professionals in all aspects of rainwater harvesting. Those people and professionals then either implement their own systems or use the knowledge in their work. We have additionally teamed up with the Plumbing and Labor Unions to train their instructors so they can train the apprentices going through their classes. Whenever a community requests an educational workshop, we work with local representatives to set one up. We additionally have a very education heavy website for anyone looking to learn more on rainwater and stormwater catchment.
First, we are part of a group of leading world rainwater harvesting associations that have pledged the following:
- Rainwater harvesting is essential to achieving SDG 6.1 As an Alliance we have committed ourselves to continue to promote rainwater harvesting solutions to those so far left behind. Also, because we realize that without utilization of rainwater for domestic use, for schools and health centers as drinking water, for cooking and personal hygiene, esp. hand washing, the world will not be able to achieve SDG 6.1.
- Rainwater harvesting can help replenish soils and help crops to grow in areas that have been stripped of vegetation due to poor management. On a community level, it can help to slow flood waters and thereby helping to minimize flood damage. Rainwater harvesting can supply water to homes and schools as well as wash stations that do not have clean water supplies. There are many local examples in which rainwater harvesting can help address water scarcity issues. Catching rainwater can supply water to areas that currently have very low water supplies like Native American communities or for people living in areas with high fire risks. In these areas they can customize a rainwater harvesting system to provide the bottom half of a tank to be used as a reserve to fight fires or even be used as an emergency water supply in case of disaster. Another example would be for people living along the coast dealing with saltwater intrusion. In these areas you cannot build a home because there is no water supply. But with a rainwater system, you can provide your own water supply and therefore build wherever. The same goes for areas where you cannot build because there is no groundwater or very deep or even polluted groundwater. There has also been rising instances in which water supplies are getting contaminated, like East Palestine, Ohio and India for example. By using rainwater as your water source, you are taking away that risk of contamination because the water never reaches the ground. You do have to be aware of what is in the air that the rainwater can pick up as it falls through the sky. Lastly, utilizing rainwater means you are drawing less water from the ground and depleting vital groundwater sources. Which then allows the overall ground water supply to replenish and grow.
What I find most frustrating is getting people to realize what rainwater can do for them. The challenge is trying to educate people to understand the great things we can do. What has been the most rewarding is that over the last 30 years, ARCSA has grown from a small association to a true trade organization.
The process begins with three classes. The first class is for designers. With this class you receive a manual, which is based on ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI Standards 63 and 78, which you must read to pass the class. Next is our installer class. This class is generally done after completing the designer course because you read the contents of the manual and are now educated on the process. Lastly, is the inspector class. This goes over an in-depth checklist, and you learn how to go through an existing system and see if it is put together correctly, making sure it has all the right parts in the right location, and is operating properly. After these courses are completed and you can take one at a time, you are ready to apply for certification through ASSE for one or all the classes you have passed.