This three-hour Introduction to Rainwater Harvesting Class is meant for those wanting to get an ideal of what the four steps of a rainwater harvesting systems include, what they can provide in a water supply, and what they require for design and construction. The basics for determining a water budget will be discussed to provide an attendee an idea of their potential for rainwater capture. Be sure to order the ARCSA Rainwater Harvesting Manual (you can purchase during your registration process for $35) for a detailed guide to rainwater harvesting.

This course will be combined with the ARCSA International Recertification Class which is required for renewing a professional ASSE 21000 Series Certification. 

The advanced four-hour class will delve deeper in the requirements for a rainwater catchment system. This class will provide an overview of the latest requirement for both active and passive systems, discuss both outdoor and in-building rainwater use, discuss sanitation for potable uses, and discuss rules and regulations. There will be several seasoned rainwater harvesting professionals, in addition to the instructor to answer questions that may arise.  

For those taking the class for Recertification, this course qualifies for renewing one or all three ASSE 21000 certifications, one course, one exam, renews ASSE 21110, 21120 and/or 21130. You will have 30 days to register for the ASSE 21000 Series Rainwater Catchment Systems Designer, Installer, and Inspector Recertification Exam.  It is anticipated that the student will additionally review their ARCSA Rainwater Harvesting Manual, the Plumbing Engineering and Design Standards ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 63-2020: Rainwater Catchment Systems, and ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 78-2023: Stormwater Harvesting Systems Design for Direct End-Use Applications.

• 9:00 AM – 9:55 AM
  Speaker (TBD)
  To be recommended by California Institute for Water Resources
  
  
• 10:00 AM – 10:55 AM
  Indigenous Rainwater Harvesting Practices in California: Relationship to Food Resilience and Climate Change
  Rosalind Haselbeck, Ph.D., Executive Director, Dwelling on Carbon 
  
  
• 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  Rainwater Harvesting Partners Project for Fire Safety, Irrigation, and Livestock Use
  Gesse Bullock, Fire Management Specialist, Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Jacob Shaffer, District Conservationist, United States Department of Agriculture; Sheena Schemm, Southern Plains/Eastern Oklahoma Regional Climate Resilience Coordinator, Bureau of Indian Affairs

• 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
  Project: Dove Ridge Vineyard Water Harvesting Weatherford, Texas
  Jacob Shaffer, USDA NRC District Conservationist
  
  
• 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
  Break
  
  
• 3:00 PM – 3:55 PM
  Case Studies of Using Rainwater for Irrigation in Gardens and Greenhouses
  Billy Kniffen, Texas A&M University Extension Water Resource Specialist (retired)
  
  
• 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
  Urban Stormwater Use: Opportunities and Challenges
  Tolessa Deksissa, Ph.D., Director, Water Resources Institute, University of the District of Columbia
  
  
• 5:00 PM
  Wednesday Closing

• 8:30 AM – 9:25 AM
  Advanced Geospatial Technologies Applications in Rainwater Harvesting Systems
  Tammy E. Parece, Ph.D., Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Geography, The Ohio State University
  
  
• 9:30 AM – 10:25 AM
  Smart Solutions: Advanced Technologies in Rainwater Harvesting
  Sarah Sojka, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Studies and Science, Randolph College; Kathy Gee, Ph.D., P.E., Director of Regulatory Affairs and Alliances, OptiRTC, Inc.
  
  
• 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
  Controlling and Monitoring Microbial Contamination in Rainwater Harvesting System
  Benjamin Sojka, Vice President, Rainwater Management Solutions (RMS), Inc.
  
  
• 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
  Lunch on Your Own
  
  
• 1:00 PM - 1:55 PM
  Modern Rainwater Harvesting Systems: Resilient Approach for Water & Energy Conservation and Food Security
  Katherine O’Neil, Ph.D., Director Environmental Studies Program, Roanoke College; Tamim Younos, Ph.D., President, Green Water-Infrastructure Academy