New ASPE Standard Governing Rainwater Harvesting

The new consensus standard governing rainwater harvesting has recently been published by the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE).  The standard, ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 78-2015: Stormwater Harvesting System Design for Direct End-Use Applications, covers collection of stormwater for potable and non-potable uses.  The official standard components cover design and installation requirements including collection, tanks, piping, treatment, inspections and maintenance, and labeling.  For potable use specifically, the standard covers operation and water quality maintenance, including storage, filtration, disinfection, and testing.  The potable water section begins with the requirement that “The design and construction of a public potable water system shall meet all of the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction that has primary enforcement responsibility for the Safe Drinking Water Act” – and, has other references to meeting SDWA requirements.  There is additional supporting material in the appendices.  These are “informative” — meaning they are not required to comply with the standard but support the standard.  There is reference material on minimum water quality standards for potable use (drinking water MCLs) and backflow prevention assemblies.

The standard is available for download from the ASPE.   ASPE Plumbing Engineering and Design Standards are developed through a consensus standards development process in accordance to the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The consensus process utilizes volunteers who represent myriad interests and points of view to establish a plumbing design standard for plumbing engineers and designers.  Sam Perry of the Washington State Department of Health was a member of the standards committee that developed this standard.  Thanks to Sam for representing the interests of state drinking water programs in this process.