David Crawford, President and Founder of Rainwater System, Inc. in Salem, Virginia, recently announced the company's merger with Massachusettes engineering firm, Rattenbury Engineering LLC. John M. Rattenbury, who formed Rattenbury Engineering LLC in December 2001 and over the years worked with Rainwater System on rainwater and storm water management projects, comes on board as Vice President of Engineering.

The alliance between these two firms-now renamed Rainwater Management Solutions (RMS)-makes it the only American firm that offers siphonic roof drainage for rainwater harvesting systems.

Founded in October 2000, Rainwater System, Inc. grew out of the ever-increasing cost and demand on natural water resources. Today it has evolved into a professional services firm specializing in providing turnkey solutions for rainwater and storm water management-from design, consulting, and engineering to providing products such as siphonic drains, tanks, filters and pumps that make rainwater accessible for residential or commercial use.

RMS works with organizations and individuals who utilize Best Management Practices in the development of commercial properties and residential housing developments. This includes key decision-makers in development firms as well as engineering and architectural firms working in this market segment. The company also works with the agricultural community to develop solutions to eradicate non-point source pollution, organizations and individuals involved in water conservation and sustainability, and storm water watershed management, especially those in the green-building market, and state and municipal commissions and authorities who incorporate the Low Impact Development approach for storm water management.

Principals include:

• David Crawford, President, who has 22 years experience in healthcare consulting, marketing and sales in addition to his experience in residential and commercial construction. Mr. Crawford is a published author and strong advocate of water conservation and management.

• William H. Daughtrey, Chief Operating Officer, who joins RMS after a successful 30-year business career as a management consultant and senior executive. An author and seminar speaker, Mr. Daughtrey has an MBA in Finance and has served on the Board of Directors of numerous private and public companies.

• Ed Crawford, Vice President Operations, who has been involved in various areas of public safety for over 21 years. During that time he spent eight years lobbying on public safety issues on both the federal and state level, and successfully lobbied the first rainwater bill in Virginia.

• John M. Rattenbury, PE, CIPE, LEEDAP, Vice President Engineering, a LEEDS certified engineer renowned for his knowledge and experience in the design and engineering of siphonic roof drainage systems. Mr. Rattenbury was responsible for the design of a siphonic roof drain system-the first ever installed in the United States-for the one million square foot, $450 million, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. He currently serves as a wastewater management consultant to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Since its inception, the company has provided design, consulting and engineering services to companies across the country, including Atlanta-based Greenberg Farrow Architecture for an Ikea Home Furnishings store in Michigan; Randall Stout Architects of California; Rosser Associates of Atlanta for the design of a proposed new stadium in Roanoke, Virginia; VMDO Architects, P.C. for the construction of a school in Charlottesville, VA; and Southeast Rural Community Assistance, Inc. for a project in Greene County.

Active lobbyists for the protection of natural water resources, RMS has formed a productive relationship with the Virginia General Assembly, State Boards and various agencies, and successfully promoted and passed the first rainwater harvesting bill in the state of Virginia.