American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association

What American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association does

The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA), founded in 1994 and headquartered in Mokena, Illinois, is a non-profit trade association that develops standards, certifies professionals and systems, and delivers education for the rainwater and stormwater catchment industry. It serves a multi-stakeholder constituency that includes installers, contractors, engineers, architects, designers, builders, code officials, regulators, and end-users across North America. ARCSA co-developed and maintains ANSI-accredited consensus standards including ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI Standard 63 for rainwater catchment systems and ARCSA/ASPE/IAPMO Standard 78 for stormwater harvesting, and operates as a subsidiary of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).

ARCSA's revenue model is diversified across individual and corporate membership dues, professional certification fees for designers and installers, a recently launched In-Field Rainwater Harvesting System Certification Program for installed systems (April 2026), continuing-education and training programs (including Ohio Department of Health-approved CE credits), and a bookstore of related publications. Distribution is amplified by its IAPMO parent, which gives ARCSA access to a larger plumbing and mechanical codes ecosystem. Customer relationships span government regulatory bodies that reference ARCSA standards in their programs (TCEQ, U.S. GSA, Ohio Department of Health) and private-sector adopters seeking certified professionals and approved systems.

Recent strategic activity (mid-2025 through 2026) centers on standards adoption and ecosystem expansion: incorporation of ARCSA standards into the U.S. General Services Administration's P100 federal facility standard, joining the Reservoir Center for Water Solutions (July 2025), a Technical Symposium held at Grundfos headquarters in Brookshire, Texas (May 2026), and the launch of in-field system certification (April 2026). The organization operates with 11-50 employees and does not disclose financials.

Name

American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association

Legal name

ARCSA International

Website

https://arcsa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ARCSA is a non-profit trade association that develops ANSI-accredited rainwater and stormwater catchment standards, certifies professionals and installed systems, and delivers training across North America, operating as a subsidiary of IAPMO.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Flower Mound

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: ARCSA operates as a membership-based organization with various membership tiers including individual membership and Hall of Fame Members. Members receive access to exclusive content, news, advancements in rainwater catchment technology, and a forum for knowledge sharing.
2. Professional Certifications: Revenue generated from professional certification programs for designers, installers, and inspectors in the rainwater harvesting industry.
3. Education and Training: Revenue from comprehensive educational resources, classes, workshops, and documentation about rainwater harvesting. Also includes continuing education approvals (e.g., Ohio Department of Health approved classes).
4. ARCSA Bookstore: Sales of publications and educational materials through the ARCSA Bookstore (arcsastore.org).
5. Rainwater System Certification: Certification of rainwater harvesting systems to ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI Standard 63.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ARCSA International is a membership-based non-profit industry association that develops and maintains national standards (ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI Standard 63) for rainwater and stormwater harvesting, and delivers Professional Certification programs for Designers, Installers, and Inspectors, Rainwater System Certification for installed systems, and education and training resources for the rainwater harvesting industry. It also operates an annual Technical Symposium, the ARCSA Bookstore, and advocacy programs such as ARCSA WRAP Action.

Product overview

ARCSA International offers a unified portfolio of rainwater harvesting education, certification, and professional development services. The core offerings include Professional Certification for Designers, Installers, and Inspectors, Rainwater System Certification to ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI Standard 63, and comprehensive ARCSA Education resources including classes, workshops, and business startup guidance. The organization also hosts the annual ARCSA Technical Symposium for industry advancement and maintains the ARCSA WRAP Action program for national water reuse advocacy. ARCSA Membership provides access to all these resources and the organization's knowledge-sharing forum.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Certification Program Training and certification program for Designers, Installers, and Inspectors in rainwater harvesting systems, granting accredited credentials recognized across the U.S. industry.
• Rainwater Harvesting System Certification Program In-field certification program verifying that installed rainwater harvesting systems are designed, installed, and operating in compliance with ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI Standard 63.
• ARCSA Education Comprehensive educational resources about rainwater harvesting including documentation, classes, workshops, and programs to help start a rainwater harvesting business.
• ARCSA Membership Membership program providing access to industry news and advancements in rainwater catchment technology, a forum for knowledge sharing, and resources for government officials, academia, consultants, manufacturers/suppliers, and conservationists.

Quantifiable outcome

• First building-scale rainwater supply in Texas permitted as a Public Water Supply System (Campsite at Shield Ranch)

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Reservoir Center for Water SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2025ARCSA International has joined the Reservoir Center for Water Solutions as an official partner. This partnership furthers ARCSA's mission to promote sustainable water practices and expand collaboration within the global water community.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Ground Water Association (NGWA): U.S. trade association for the groundwater industry, including contractors, scientists, and engineers. Comparable to ARCSA as a member-driven nonprofit providing certification, education, and advocacy in an adjacent water sourcing and management category.
• American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE): Co-developer of ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI Standard 63 and Standard 78. ASPE is a professional association for plumbing engineers with overlapping membership, education, and certification programs targeting the same design and engineering audience as ARCSA.
• Water Reuse Association: U.S.-based nonprofit trade association focused on water reuse, reclamation, and recycling. Directly comparable to ARCSA as a member-driven organization promoting standards, education, and advocacy for an alternative water source category.

Broad incumbents

• IAPMO (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials): ARCSA's parent organization and the broader standards/ codes body governing plumbing and mechanical systems. IAPMO operates at a much larger scope (plumbing/mechanical codes globally) but is the closest incumbent peer given ARCSA's structural integration and shared members portal.
• Water Quality Association (WQA): U.S. trade association for the water treatment and quality industry, offering professional certification (Certified Water Specialist) and standards development. Comparable membership/certification economics and overlapping customer base of installers and consultants.
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): Operator of the LEED green building rating system. Comparable as a large membership-based nonprofit that has embedded sustainability standards into mainstream construction procurement — a model ARCSA aspires to replicate in the narrower rainwater harvesting niche.
• American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA): Professional association model comparable in structure (membership tiers, continuing education, advocacy, certification of professionals) though operating in landscape architecture rather than water systems. Useful as a comparable association economics benchmark.
• American Water Works Association (AWWA): Largest U.S. water utility-focused association, setting standards for drinking water treatment and distribution. ARCSA's Rainwater System Certification and PWSS pathway place it adjacent to AWWA's domain, with overlapping municipal and government stakeholders.

Others

• ANSI (American National Standards Institute): The U.S. standards accreditation body under which ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI Standard 63 is administered. Not a direct competitor but an ecosystem enabler whose accreditation framework governs ARCSA's standards pathway and confers credibility.

Regional players

• International Water Association (IWA): Global network of water professionals spanning utilities, academia, and industry. Comparable as a membership-based standards and convening organization, though international in scope rather than U.S.-centric like ARCSA.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/arcsa3
• Facebookfacebook.com/ARCSA1

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association