American Rainwater Industry Holds National Conference in Austin, Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
texas-wide, Texas, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) September 28, 2010 -- The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) holds its annual conference this year in the city in which it was founded — Austin, Texas. This sixth annual conference, October 4-6, offers educational events for professionals and the general public as well as showcases the latest innovations in this growing industry that is playing an increasingly vital role in America’s energy future. Austin, Texas is among the leading cities in the US to promote and implement rainwater harvesting and is home to many pioneers in the field.

With nearly a thousand members worldwide, ARCSA’s mission is to promote sustainable rainwater harvesting practices to help solve potable, non-potable, stormwater and energy challenges throughout the world. The 16-year-old non-profit organization is dedicated to educating the public on the safe harvesting and use of rainwater as an alternative for treated drinking water.

Opening the conference is Lucia Athens, named Austin’s first Chief Sustainability Officer in June 2010.. An internationally recognized expert on green building practices, Athens has 25 years experience in both the private and public sectors, including 10 years with the City of Seattle’s sustainability programs where she provided leadership in program and policy development. She also has served in key sustainability leadership positions with the board of directors for the U.S. Green Building Council and the International Green Building Certification Institute. In Austin, she worked in the City’s Green Builder Program; was a Water Efficiency Program Manager with the Lower Colorado River Authority; and operated a residential landscape design practice specializing in green design, native landscapes, rainwater collection systems and edible gardens.

This year’s conference features the largest, most jam-packed schedule to date. In addition to keynotes by four internationally acclaimed experts, the conference will host more than 40 presentations, many on topics never before addressed, and will include another 30+ exhibition booths with the most innovative and advanced products sure to advance this thriving industry. At last year’s conference, vendors announced more than 20 new products. “We should handily beat this number at this year's conference with lots of new products and modifications to existing ones,” says Doug Pushard, 2010 conference chair.

Some of the other presenters include: the Honourable Peter Beattie, Queensland’s Trade and Investment Commissioner for the Americas; Robert Glennon, author of Unquenchable; Bob Boulware, President of ARCSA; Dr. Peter Coombes from Australia; Jeremy Delost, CEO and lead designer at Rainwater Harvesting Systems, Inc.; Nate Downey, author of Harvest the Rain; Randy Kauk, President of RainHarvest Systems; Billy Kniffen with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service; Vessela Monta, Executive Director of the International Rainwater Harvesting Association; Texas State Representative Patrick Rose and numerous others.

The exhibit hall is free to the general public and is open Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Wednesday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In addition to the vendors and presentations, this year’s conference features two fabulous tours open to the general public. The first is a private tour Monday evening, 5:30–10 p.m., which visits the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, continues with a tour of the Southwest Elementary School and then ends at the famous Salt Lick for dinner. The second tour, Wednesday afternoon, 12:30–5 p.m., visits the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), ARCH Community Center (rainwater used for toilet flushing), Zilker Gardens, Feather and Fur Animal Hospital, Las Casas Verdes and an HEB grocery store. Both tours depart from the AT&T Executive Conference Center and Hotel, the site of the conference.

About ARCSA:

The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1994 to promote rainwater catchment systems in the United States. Our membership consists of professionals working in city, state, and federal government; academia; manufacturers and suppliers of rainwater harvesting equipment; consultants; and other interested individuals. For more information about ARCSA and the conference, visit www.arcsa.org.

Contact info:
Tisha Mackey
512.617.6528
www.arcsa.org

email: tisha.mackey@arcsa.org

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