ASSE depends on the knowledge and expertise of working group members to help us develop comprehensive standards that establish minimum qualifications for people working in many plumbing, piping, and fire protection segments of our industry. This includes installers, repair technicians, designers, and inspectors, as well as those doing testing, inspection, and maintenance. If you are interested in contributing your time and knowledge to a working group in your field of expertise, please let me know.
Five years ago, ASSE International and the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) completed the development of a new standard — ASSE/ARCSA/IAPMO/ANSI Series 21000, Professional Qualification Standard for Rainwater Catchment Systems Personnel. Program guidelines and a series of tests were then created for the certification of rainwater catchment system installers, designers, and inspectors. We are now completing the first revision of the Series 21000. Special thanks go to the working group that worked on this revision. Their contributions helped create a better standard and moved the intricacies of understanding rainwater and stormwater catchment systems forward. Heather Kincade, a member of the ASSE 21000 working group, is featured in this issue’s Ten Questions with … column.
There are an increasing number of residential, commercial, and industrial rainwater and stormwater systems being installed. These systems are (hopefully) in compliance with adopted codes and building enforcement agencies. The standards within the ASSE Series 21000 establish best practices for the design and installation of viable alternative water systems utilizing captured rainwater or stormwater. They can help bring 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. They give gardens and landscaped areas a source of water that can replace potable water used for irrigation and allow for watering during times of drought. Rainwater can also be used in industrial applications where potable water sources were once used, saving millions of dollars in energy costs related to producing and pumping clean, potable water that would have otherwise been wasted in cooling or other processes. Other potential uses for captured rainwater include fire suppression systems, and ground water or aquifer recharge.
ASSE 21110 (Rainwater Catchment Systems Installers), 21120 (Rainwater Catchment Systems Designers), and 21130 (Inspectors of Rainwater and Stormwater Catchment Systems) certifications provide regulators considering new regulatory requirements for rainwater and stormwater installation, design, and inspection with a third-party certification option.
This issue of Working Pressure magazine addresses water conservation and efficiency. Many parts of the United States are in far worse shape now than they were five years ago when we initially developed the Series 21000. As of this writing, 42.41 percent of the U.S. and 50.66 percent of the lower 48 states are in drought. We need to reduce our use of precious potable water and look to alternate sources of water and water reuse. Hopefully, the articles in this quarter’s WP mag will help spark an interest for you.
COVER IMAGE: Rainwater catchment system at UA Plumbers’ JAC Local 130 Training Center in Chicago, IL.
