Joint ARCSA/ASPE Storm Water Harvesting Standard Receives ANSI Approval

The American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) announced that ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 78-2015: Stormwater Harvesting System Design for Direct End-Use Applications was approved as an American National Standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on Aug. 3, 2015.

Jointly developed by ASPE and the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Assn. (ARCSA), ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 78-2015 provides guidance on how to install and maintain a safe alternative to utility-provided water and to optimize storm water utilization to reduce dependence on municipal potable water systems. Use of the standard will ensure that consumers are not at risk from poor design, installation, maintenance or illegal work and that the storm water catchment system will assist in maintaining and enhancing the quality of the environment while assisting compliance with the intent of relevant regulations and government officials.

“This document completes the efforts of our group to develop detailed and specific standards for onsite and offsite, where applicable, storm water harvesting for beneficial purposes,” says Neal Shapiro, CPSWQ, CSM, ENV SP, chair of the 78 Working Group. “Whether one’s area is in a drought or not, whether it rains year-round or for only a few days, this low-impact development strategy of green infrastructure is a sustainable approach with numerous quantifiable benefits to the property owner, municipality, and the environment. It can make a positive difference.”

ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 78-2015 went through an extensive development process using ASPE’s ANSI-accredited standards development procedures to incorporate input from all facets of the building design and related industries. The Working Group, fine tuned the standard based on public comments to ensure that the standard meets current industry and government regulations.

“ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 78 is the result of an outstanding job by our collaborative industry partners as well as individuals who were willing to come together in a unified effort to continue advancing the abilities of our industry to the betterment of water reuse while maintaining and protecting our life-sustaining water resources,” said William “Billy” Smith, FASPE, ASPE’s executive director and CEO. “I congratulate them on a great job by all involved.”

ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 78-2015 is the second collaborative standards development project between ASPE and ARCSA. This latest standard is intended to continue where the first standard, ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 63-2013: Rainwater Catchment Systems, ended in terms of collection surface. 

Source: American Rainwater Catchment Systems Assn.