Who We Are

Appalachian Rainwater Catchment (ARC) is a locally owned and operated business based in Vilas, NC.  With ARC systems, you will find that we do not offer any sort of high-tech product, simply high quality. Rain barrels can be built by anyone with a little knowledge, some experimentation and some tools - and we wouldn't want to sell things to people that they don't need. We do feel, however, that rain collection is an important part of living in a drought-prone area and that some people may not have the time or resources to build their own barrels. Moreover, some people may be more concerned about aesthetics than others and wish to have custom built systems that are worked into landscape and matched to their home colors.

We at ARC would rather there not be a need for a company like ours. But in the meantime, we are willing to do anything that does not clash with our conscience to educate and outfit people with the tools to make their homes more sustainable.

Social Sustainability and Reduced Rates

At ARC, we feel that sustainability is not just an environmental concept, but a social one as well. Too often, people decide not to install systems or take part in environmental initiatives because they are out of their economic reach.

Sustainability should be accessible to everyone.  To make sure that we are including all people in our communities, we offer a 10% discount to non-profits purchasing ARC systems for their properties and reduced rates for some individuals and families purchasing a system.

In all honesty, we cannot go through the finances of each individual who asks for below market value rates, nor would we want to. People have different ideas about what they can afford, and any sliding scale system certainly has potential to be abused. However, anyone who reasonably feels that their financial circumstances warrant reduced prices should simply let us know! We are happy to have a candid discussion about what our expenses are and what our income must be to stay afloat as a business. In the long run, putting people before profit will help build healthier, more sustainable communities.

Having Your System Installed

If you decide to have us install your system for you, call or email to set up an appointment for a free site assessment and project estimate.  Tell us what you're looking for and we'll discuss options for placing the barrels, directing the overflow, and customizing the system and the surrounding area to your liking.  We provide the assessment and estimate free of charge because it gives us the opportunity to plan your system together with you.  That way, we can give you a concrete idea of what we can do with your site and you can let us know exactly how you'd like it to be done.

Once you've received an estimate, we ask for a $100 deposit (subtracted from the total cost) in advance of installing the system so that we can guarantee you a spot on our calendar.  We try to schedule all installations for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of each week; if those days don't work for you, we're willing to do installations on other days as well.  Just ask and we'll see what our schedules allow.

Our Barrels

Our recycled barrels are made of durable, high-density polyethylene.  We use brass, 3/4" flow ball valve spigots to enable hose attachment.  Ball valves prevent leaking better than gate valves, and ours only require a quarter-turn of the lever to go from closed to full flow capacity.

We cover the intake hole with mosquito-proof netting and use a gasket to seal the perimeter.  On installed systems (pictured), we actually connect the downspout to the barrel itself by directing your gutter into a raised attachment on top of the barrel.  This allows ALL of the water from your roof to make it into the barrel and provides even greater protection against bugs and debris.

Multi-barrel systems are connected to one another using leak-proof PVC connectors, tight-fitting rubber grommets, and professional-grade sealant.