diff --git a/dbcon/joblist/batchprimitiveprocessor-jl.cpp b/dbcon/joblist/batchprimitiveprocessor-jl.cpp
index d8f2943b6..e5b4eb7db 100644
--- a/dbcon/joblist/batchprimitiveprocessor-jl.cpp
+++ b/dbcon/joblist/batchprimitiveprocessor-jl.cpp
@@ -791,7 +791,7 @@ void BatchPrimitiveProcessorJL::getRowGroupData(ByteStream& in, vector<RGData>*
   if (in.length() == 0)
   {
     // done, return an empty RG
-    rgData = RGData(org, 0);
+    rgData = RGData(org, 0U);
     org.setData(&rgData);
     org.resetRowGroup(0);
     out->push_back(rgData);
@@ -926,7 +926,7 @@ RGData BatchPrimitiveProcessorJL::getErrorRowGroupData(uint16_t error) const
   RGData ret;
   rowgroup::RowGroup rg(projectionRG);
 
-  ret = RGData(rg, 0);
+  ret = RGData(rg, 0U);
   rg.setData(&ret);
   // rg.convertToInlineDataInPlace();
   rg.resetRowGroup(0);
diff --git a/dbcon/joblist/subquerystep.cpp b/dbcon/joblist/subquerystep.cpp
index 7624134a3..4b8214c8c 100644
--- a/dbcon/joblist/subquerystep.cpp
+++ b/dbcon/joblist/subquerystep.cpp
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ uint32_t SubAdapterStep::nextBand(messageqcpp::ByteStream& bs)
   if (fEndOfResult)
   {
     // send an empty / error band
-    RGData rgData(fRowGroupDeliver, 0);
+    RGData rgData(fRowGroupDeliver, 0U);
     fRowGroupDeliver.setData(&rgData);
     fRowGroupDeliver.resetRowGroup(0);
     fRowGroupDeliver.setStatus(status());
diff --git a/dbcon/joblist/tupleaggregatestep.cpp b/dbcon/joblist/tupleaggregatestep.cpp
index 673af0995..341ad7958 100644
--- a/dbcon/joblist/tupleaggregatestep.cpp
+++ b/dbcon/joblist/tupleaggregatestep.cpp
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ uint32_t TupleAggregateStep::nextBand_singleThread(messageqcpp::ByteStream& bs)
     postStepSummaryTele(sts);
 
     // send an empty / error band
-    RGData rgData(fRowGroupOut, 0);
+    RGData rgData(fRowGroupOut, 0U);
     fRowGroupOut.setData(&rgData);
     fRowGroupOut.resetRowGroup(0);
     fRowGroupOut.setStatus(status());
@@ -5857,7 +5857,7 @@ uint64_t TupleAggregateStep::doThreadedAggregate(ByteStream& bs, RowGroupDL* dlp
     else
     {
       // send an empty / error band
-      RGData rgData(fRowGroupOut, 0);
+      RGData rgData(fRowGroupOut, 0U);
       fRowGroupOut.setData(&rgData);
       fRowGroupOut.resetRowGroup(0);
       fRowGroupOut.setStatus(status());
diff --git a/dbcon/joblist/tupleconstantstep.cpp b/dbcon/joblist/tupleconstantstep.cpp
index cef1bb9b9..af3680337 100644
--- a/dbcon/joblist/tupleconstantstep.cpp
+++ b/dbcon/joblist/tupleconstantstep.cpp
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ uint32_t TupleConstantStep::nextBand(messageqcpp::ByteStream& bs)
   if (fEndOfResult)
   {
     // send an empty / error band
-    RGData rgData(fRowGroupOut, 0);
+    RGData rgData(fRowGroupOut, 0U);
     fRowGroupOut.setData(&rgData);
     fRowGroupOut.resetRowGroup(0);
     fRowGroupOut.setStatus(status());
@@ -720,7 +720,7 @@ uint32_t TupleConstantOnlyStep::nextBand(messageqcpp::ByteStream& bs)
   else
   {
     // send an empty / error band
-    RGData rgData(fRowGroupOut, 0);
+    RGData rgData(fRowGroupOut, 0U);
     fRowGroupOut.setData(&rgData);
     fRowGroupOut.resetRowGroup(0);
     fRowGroupOut.setStatus(status());
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@ void TupleConstantBooleanStep::run()
 uint32_t TupleConstantBooleanStep::nextBand(messageqcpp::ByteStream& bs)
 {
   // send an empty band
-  RGData rgData(fRowGroupOut, 0);
+  RGData rgData(fRowGroupOut, 0U);
   fRowGroupOut.setData(&rgData);
   fRowGroupOut.resetRowGroup(0);
   fRowGroupOut.setStatus(status());
diff --git a/dbcon/joblist/tupleunion.cpp b/dbcon/joblist/tupleunion.cpp
index 895c1e954..389e2230f 100644
--- a/dbcon/joblist/tupleunion.cpp
+++ b/dbcon/joblist/tupleunion.cpp
@@ -1590,7 +1590,7 @@ uint32_t TupleUnion::nextBand(messageqcpp::ByteStream& bs)
     outputRG.setData(&mem);
   else
   {
-    mem = RGData(outputRG, 0);
+    mem = RGData(outputRG, 0U);
     outputRG.setData(&mem);
     outputRG.resetRowGroup(0);
     outputRG.setStatus(status());
diff --git a/primitives/primproc/batchprimitiveprocessor.cpp b/primitives/primproc/batchprimitiveprocessor.cpp
index cd96fbfa7..c6e30f992 100644
--- a/primitives/primproc/batchprimitiveprocessor.cpp
+++ b/primitives/primproc/batchprimitiveprocessor.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <sstream>
 #include <set>
+#include "rowgroup.h"
 #include "serviceexemgr.h"
 #include <cstdlib>
 using namespace std;
@@ -327,9 +328,14 @@ void BatchPrimitiveProcessor::initBPP(ByteStream& bs)
       typelessJoin.reset(new bool[joinerCount]);
       tlSmallSideKeyLengths.reset(new uint32_t[joinerCount]);
 
-      storedKeyAllocators.reset(new PoolAllocator[joinerCount]);
+      // storedKeyAllocators.reset(new PoolAllocator[joinerCount]);
       for (uint j = 0; j < joinerCount; ++j)
-        storedKeyAllocators[j].setUseLock(true);
+      {
+        // storedKeyAllocators[j].setUseLock(true);
+        // WIP use one copy of the allocator
+        auto allocator = exemgr::globServiceExeMgr->getRm().getAllocator<utils::PoolAllocatorBufType>();
+        storedKeyAllocators.emplace_back(PoolAllocator(&allocator, PoolAllocator::DEFAULT_WINDOW_SIZE, false, true));
+      }
 
       joinNullValues.reset(new uint64_t[joinerCount]);
       doMatchNulls.reset(new bool[joinerCount]);
@@ -360,16 +366,16 @@ void BatchPrimitiveProcessor::initBPP(ByteStream& bs)
 
         if (!typelessJoin[i])
         {
-          auto alloc = exemgr::globServiceExeMgr->getRm().getAllocator<TJoiner::value_type>();
+          auto allocator = exemgr::globServiceExeMgr->getRm().getAllocator<TJoiner::value_type>();
 
           bs >> joinNullValues[i];
           bs >> largeSideKeyColumns[i];
           for (uint j = 0; j < processorThreads; ++j)
-            tJoiners[i][j].reset(new TJoiner(10, TupleJoiner::hasher(), alloc));
+            tJoiners[i][j].reset(new TJoiner(10, TupleJoiner::hasher(), allocator));
         }
         else
         {
-          auto alloc = exemgr::globServiceExeMgr->getRm().getAllocator<TLJoiner::value_type>();
+          auto allocator = exemgr::globServiceExeMgr->getRm().getAllocator<TLJoiner::value_type>();
 
           deserializeVector<uint32_t>(bs, tlLargeSideKeyColumns[i]);
           bs >> tlSmallSideKeyLengths[i];
@@ -392,7 +398,7 @@ void BatchPrimitiveProcessor::initBPP(ByteStream& bs)
                                                             mSmallSideKeyColumnsPtr, mSmallSideRGPtr);
             auto tlComparator = TupleJoiner::TypelessDataComparator(&outputRG, &tlLargeSideKeyColumns[i],
                                                                     mSmallSideKeyColumnsPtr, mSmallSideRGPtr);
-            tlJoiners[i][j].reset(new TLJoiner(10, tlHasher, tlComparator, alloc));
+            tlJoiners[i][j].reset(new TLJoiner(10, tlHasher, tlComparator, allocator));
           }
         }
       }
@@ -1375,7 +1381,7 @@ uint32_t BatchPrimitiveProcessor::executeTupleJoin(uint32_t startRid, RowGroup&
 }
 
 #ifdef PRIMPROC_STOPWATCH
-void BatchPrimitiveProcessor::execute(StopWatch* stopwatch)
+void BatchPrimitiveProcessor::execute(StopWatch* stopwatch, messageqcpp::SBS& bs)
 #else
 void BatchPrimitiveProcessor::execute(messageqcpp::SBS& bs)
 #endif
@@ -1599,7 +1605,6 @@ void BatchPrimitiveProcessor::execute(messageqcpp::SBS& bs)
       {
         for (j = 0; j < projectCount; ++j)
         {
-          // 				cout << "projectionMap[" << j << "] = " << projectionMap[j] << endl;
           if (projectionMap[j] != -1)
           {
 #ifdef PRIMPROC_STOPWATCH
@@ -1610,11 +1615,6 @@ void BatchPrimitiveProcessor::execute(messageqcpp::SBS& bs)
             projectSteps[j]->projectIntoRowGroup(outputRG, projectionMap[j]);
 #endif
           }
-
-          //				else
-          //					cout << "   no target found for OID " <<
-          // projectSteps[j]->getOID()
-          //<< endl;
         }
         if (fe2)
         {
@@ -2216,8 +2216,8 @@ int BatchPrimitiveProcessor::operator()()
     validCPData = false;
     cpDataFromDictScan = false;
 
-    auto alloc = exemgr::globServiceExeMgr->getRm().getAllocator<messageqcpp::BSBufType>();
-    messageqcpp::SBS bs(new ByteStream(&alloc));
+    auto allocator = exemgr::globServiceExeMgr->getRm().getAllocator<messageqcpp::BSBufType>();
+    messageqcpp::SBS bs(new ByteStream(&allocator));
 
 #ifdef PRIMPROC_STOPWATCH
     stopwatch->start("BPP() execute");
@@ -2278,17 +2278,19 @@ int BatchPrimitiveProcessor::operator()()
 
 void BatchPrimitiveProcessor::allocLargeBuffers()
 {
+  auto allocator = exemgr::globServiceExeMgr->getRm().getAllocator<rowgroup::RGDataBufType>();
+  
   if (ot == ROW_GROUP && !outRowGroupData)
   {
     // outputRG.setUseStringTable(true);
-    outRowGroupData.reset(new RGData(outputRG));
+    outRowGroupData.reset(new RGData(outputRG, &allocator));
     outputRG.setData(outRowGroupData.get());
   }
 
   if (fe1 && !fe1Data)
   {
     // fe1Input.setUseStringTable(true);
-    fe1Data.reset(new RGData(fe1Input));
+    fe1Data.reset(new RGData(fe1Input, &allocator));
     // fe1Data.reset(new uint8_t[fe1Input.getMaxDataSize()]);
     fe1Input.setData(fe1Data.get());
   }
@@ -2296,14 +2298,14 @@ void BatchPrimitiveProcessor::allocLargeBuffers()
   if (fe2 && !fe2Data)
   {
     // fe2Output.setUseStringTable(true);
-    fe2Data.reset(new RGData(fe2Output));
+    fe2Data.reset(new RGData(fe2Output, &allocator));
     fe2Output.setData(fe2Data.get());
   }
 
   if (getTupleJoinRowGroupData && !joinedRGMem)
   {
     // joinedRG.setUseStringTable(true);
-    joinedRGMem.reset(new RGData(joinedRG));
+    joinedRGMem.reset(new RGData(joinedRG, &allocator));
     joinedRG.setData(joinedRGMem.get());
   }
 }
@@ -2471,73 +2473,6 @@ SBPP BatchPrimitiveProcessor::duplicate()
   return bpp;
 }
 
-#if 0
-bool BatchPrimitiveProcessor::operator==(const BatchPrimitiveProcessor& bpp) const
-{
-    uint32_t i;
-
-    if (ot != bpp.ot)
-        return false;
-
-    if (versionInfo != bpp.versionInfo)
-        return false;
-
-    if (txnID != bpp.txnID)
-        return false;
-
-    if (sessionID != bpp.sessionID)
-        return false;
-
-    if (stepID != bpp.stepID)
-        return false;
-
-    if (uniqueID != bpp.uniqueID)
-        return false;
-
-    if (gotValues != bpp.gotValues)
-        return false;
-
-    if (gotAbsRids != bpp.gotAbsRids)
-        return false;
-
-    if (needStrValues != bpp.needStrValues)
-        return false;
-
-    if (filterCount != bpp.filterCount)
-        return false;
-
-    if (projectCount != bpp.projectCount)
-        return false;
-
-    if (sendRidsAtDelivery != bpp.sendRidsAtDelivery)
-        return false;
-
-    if (hasScan != bpp.hasScan)
-        return false;
-
-    if (hasFilterStep != bpp.hasFilterStep)
-        return false;
-
-    if (filtOnString != bpp.filtOnString)
-        return false;
-
-    if (doJoin != bpp.doJoin)
-        return false;
-
-    if (doJoin)
-
-        /* Join equality test is a bit out of date */
-        if (joiner != bpp.joiner || joinerSize != bpp.joinerSize)
-            return false;
-
-    for (i = 0; i < filterCount; i++)
-        if (*filterSteps[i] != *bpp.filterSteps[i])
-            return false;
-
-    return true;
-}
-#endif
-
 void BatchPrimitiveProcessor::asyncLoadProjectColumns()
 {
   // relLBID is the LBID related to the primMsg->LBID,
diff --git a/primitives/primproc/batchprimitiveprocessor.h b/primitives/primproc/batchprimitiveprocessor.h
index effa28839..5935232da 100644
--- a/primitives/primproc/batchprimitiveprocessor.h
+++ b/primitives/primproc/batchprimitiveprocessor.h
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ class BatchPrimitiveProcessor
 
   void initProcessor();
 #ifdef PRIMPROC_STOPWATCH
-  void execute(logging::StopWatch* stopwatch);
+  void execute(logging::StopWatch* stopwatch, messageqcpp::SBS& bs);
 #else
   void execute(messageqcpp::SBS& bs);
 #endif
@@ -379,14 +379,15 @@ class BatchPrimitiveProcessor
 
   inline void getJoinResults(const rowgroup::Row& r, uint32_t jIndex, std::vector<uint32_t>& v);
   // these allocators hold the memory for the keys stored in tlJoiners
-  std::shared_ptr<utils::PoolAllocator[]> storedKeyAllocators;
+  // WIP This was a shared vec of allocators originally but it might not be necessary.
+  // This might give far memory allocations for keys used by JOIN hashmap.
+  std::vector<utils::PoolAllocator> storedKeyAllocators;
 
   /* PM Aggregation */
   rowgroup::RowGroup joinedRG;  // if there's a join, the rows are formatted with this
   rowgroup::SP_ROWAGG_PM_t fAggregator;
   rowgroup::RowGroup fAggregateRG;
   rowgroup::RGData fAggRowGroupData;
-  // boost::scoped_array<uint8_t> fAggRowGroupData;
 
   /* OR hacks */
   uint8_t bop;  // BOP_AND or BOP_OR
diff --git a/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 4a786e4b9..211365663 100644
--- a/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ if (WITH_UNITTESTS)
     target_link_libraries(fair_threadpool_test ${ENGINE_LDFLAGS} ${ENGINE_WRITE_LIBS} ${GTEST_LIBRARIES} processor dbbc)
     gtest_add_tests(TARGET fair_threadpool_test TEST_PREFIX columnstore:)
 
+    set_source_files_properties(counting_allocator.cpp PROPERTIES COMPILE_FLAGS "-Wno-sign-compare")
     add_executable(counting_allocator counting_allocator.cpp)
     add_dependencies(counting_allocator googletest)
     target_link_libraries(counting_allocator ${ENGINE_LDFLAGS} ${ENGINE_WRITE_LIBS} ${GTEST_LIBRARIES})
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ if (WITH_UNITTESTS)
     add_test(NAME columnstore:brm_em_standalone COMMAND brm_em_standalone)
     set_tests_properties(columnstore:brm_em_standalone PROPERTIES DISABLED True)
 endif()
-
+# -Werror=sign-compare
 if (WITH_MICROBENCHMARKS AND (NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "Debug"))
     find_package(benchmark REQUIRED)
     add_executable(primitives_scan_bench primitives_scan_bench.cpp)
diff --git a/tests/rowgroup-tests.cpp b/tests/rowgroup-tests.cpp
index 0c2a2e789..5b3899e30 100644
--- a/tests/rowgroup-tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/rowgroup-tests.cpp
@@ -16,8 +16,11 @@
    MA 02110-1301, USA. */
 
 #include <gtest/gtest.h>  // googletest header file
+#include <cstring>
 #include <iostream>
+#include <numeric>
 
+#include "countingallocator.h"
 #include "rowgroup.h"
 #include "columnwidth.h"
 #include "joblisttypes.h"
@@ -28,13 +31,44 @@
 
 using CSCDataType = execplan::CalpontSystemCatalog::ColDataType;
 using datatypes::TSInt128;
+using RGFieldsType = std::vector<uint32_t>;
+
+rowgroup::RowGroup setupRG(const std::vector<execplan::CalpontSystemCatalog::ColDataType>& cts,
+                           const RGFieldsType& widths, const RGFieldsType& charsets)
+{
+  std::vector<execplan::CalpontSystemCatalog::ColDataType> types = cts;
+  RGFieldsType offsets{2};
+  for (auto w : widths)
+  {
+    offsets.push_back(offsets.back() + w);
+  }
+  RGFieldsType roids(widths.size());
+  std::iota(roids.begin(), roids.end(), 3000);
+  RGFieldsType tkeys(widths.size());
+  std::fill(tkeys.begin(), tkeys.end(), 1);
+  RGFieldsType cscale(widths.size());
+  std::fill(cscale.begin(), cscale.end(), 0);
+  RGFieldsType precision(widths.size());
+  std::fill(precision.begin(), precision.end(), 20);
+  return rowgroup::RowGroup(roids.size(),  // column count
+                            offsets,       // oldOffset
+                            roids,         // column oids
+                            tkeys,         // keys
+                            types,         // types
+                            charsets,      // charset numbers
+                            cscale,        // scale
+                            precision,     // precision
+                            20,            // sTableThreshold
+                            true          // useStringTable
+  );
+}
 
 class RowDecimalTest : public ::testing::Test
 {
  protected:
   void SetUp() override
   {
-    uint32_t precision = WIDE_DEC_PRECISION;
+     uint32_t precision = WIDE_DEC_PRECISION;
     uint32_t oid = 3001;
 
     std::vector<CSCDataType> types;
@@ -81,7 +115,6 @@ class RowDecimalTest : public ::testing::Test
                             20,             // sTableThreshold
                             false           // useStringTable
     );
-
     rg = rgOut = inRG;
     rgD.reinit(rg);
     rgDOut.reinit(rgOut);
@@ -317,3 +350,90 @@ TEST_F(RowDecimalTest, RowEqualsCheck)
     }
   }
 }
+
+static const constexpr int64_t MemoryAllowance = 10 * 1024 * 1024;
+
+class RGDataTest : public ::testing::Test
+{
+ protected:
+  RGDataTest()
+    : allocatedMemory(MemoryAllowance), alloc(allocatedMemory, MemoryAllowance / 100) {}
+  void SetUp() override
+  {
+    rg = setupRG({execplan::CalpontSystemCatalog::VARCHAR, execplan::CalpontSystemCatalog::UDECIMAL,
+                         execplan::CalpontSystemCatalog::DECIMAL, execplan::CalpontSystemCatalog::DECIMAL,
+                         execplan::CalpontSystemCatalog::DECIMAL, execplan::CalpontSystemCatalog::DECIMAL},
+                        {65536, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1}, {8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8});
+
+    // rgD = rowgroup::RGData(rg, &alloc);
+    // rg.setData(&rgD);
+    // rg.initRow(&r);
+    // rg.getRow(0, &r);
+
+    // for (size_t i = 0; i < sValueVector.size(); i++)
+    // {
+    //   // setStringField
+    //   r.setBinaryField_offset(&sValueVector[i], sizeof(sValueVector[0]), offsets[0]);
+    //   r.setBinaryField_offset(&anotherValueVector[i], sizeof(anotherValueVector[0]), offsets[1]);
+    //   r.setIntField(s64ValueVector[i], 2);
+    //   r.setIntField(s32ValueVector[i], 3);
+    //   r.setIntField(s16ValueVector[i], 4);
+    //   r.setIntField(s8ValueVector[i], 5);
+    //   r.nextRow(rowSize);
+    // }
+
+    // rowCount = sValueVector.size();
+  }
+
+  // void TearDown() override {}
+
+  rowgroup::Row r;
+  rowgroup::RowGroup rg;
+  rowgroup::RGData rgD;
+  std::atomic<int64_t> allocatedMemory{MemoryAllowance};
+  allocators::CountingAllocator<rowgroup::RGDataBufType> alloc;
+};
+  // bool useStringTable = true;
+TEST_F(RGDataTest, AllocData)
+{
+    std::cout << " test  allocatedMemery " << allocatedMemory.load() << " rowsize " << rg.getRowSize() << " " << rg.getMaxDataSize() << std::endl;
+    rgD = rowgroup::RGData(rg, &alloc);
+    rg.setData(&rgD);
+    rg.initRow(&r);
+    rg.getRow(0, &r);
+    std::cout << " test inStringTable(colIndex) " << r.inStringTable(0) << std::endl;
+
+    std::cout << " test  allocatedMemery " << allocatedMemory.load() << std::endl;
+    auto currentAllocation = allocatedMemory.load();
+    EXPECT_LE(currentAllocation, MemoryAllowance - rg.getMaxDataSize());
+
+    r.setStringField(utils::ConstString{"testaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"}, 0);
+    std::cout << " test  allocatedMemery " << allocatedMemory.load() << std::endl;
+    std::cout << " test  inStringTable " << r.getColumnWidth(0) << std::endl;
+    EXPECT_LE(allocatedMemory.load(), currentAllocation);
+
+    currentAllocation = allocatedMemory.load();
+    r.nextRow();
+    r.setStringField(utils::ConstString{"testaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"}, 0);
+    std::cout << " test  allocatedMemery " << allocatedMemory.load() << std::endl;
+    std::cout << " test  inStringTable " << r.getColumnWidth(0) << std::endl;
+    EXPECT_EQ(allocatedMemory.load(), currentAllocation);
+
+    currentAllocation = allocatedMemory.load();
+    r.nextRow();
+    std::string longString(64 * 1024 + 1000, 'a');
+    auto cs = utils::ConstString(longString);
+    std::cout << "test longString " << longString.size() << " cs len " << cs.length()<< std::endl;
+
+    r.setStringField(cs, 0);
+    std::cout << " test  allocatedMemery " << allocatedMemory.load() << std::endl;
+    std::cout << " test  inStringTable " << r.getColumnWidth(0) << std::endl;
+    EXPECT_LE(allocatedMemory.load(), currentAllocation);
+
+    rgD = rowgroup::RGData(rg);
+    std::cout << " test  allocatedMemery " << allocatedMemory.load() << std::endl;
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(allocatedMemory.load(), MemoryAllowance);
+
+    // reinit
+}
diff --git a/utils/common/countingallocator.h b/utils/common/countingallocator.h
index 76f7c9a58..82e8f9105 100644
--- a/utils/common/countingallocator.h
+++ b/utils/common/countingallocator.h
@@ -46,8 +46,12 @@ public:
     CountingAllocator(const CountingAllocator<U>& other) noexcept
         : memoryLimitRef_(other.memoryLimitRef_) {}
 
+
     // Allocate memory for n objects of type T
-    T* allocate(std::size_t n) {
+    template <typename U = T>
+    typename std::enable_if<!std::is_array<U>::value, U*>::type
+    allocate(std::size_t n) 
+    {
         auto memCounted = memoryLimitRef_.fetch_sub(n * sizeof(T), std::memory_order_relaxed);
         if (memCounted < memoryLimitLowerBound) {
             memoryLimitRef_.fetch_add(n * sizeof(T), std::memory_order_relaxed);
@@ -60,8 +64,25 @@ public:
         return ptr;
     }
 
+       template <typename U = T>
+    typename std::enable_if<std::is_array<U>::value, typename std::remove_extent<U>::type*>::type
+    allocate(std::size_t n) 
+    {
+        auto memCounted = memoryLimitRef_.fetch_sub(n * sizeof(T), std::memory_order_relaxed);
+        if (memCounted < memoryLimitLowerBound) {
+            memoryLimitRef_.fetch_add(n * sizeof(T), std::memory_order_relaxed);
+            throw std::bad_alloc();
+        }
+        
+        T ptr = static_cast<T>(::operator new[](n));
+        // std::cout << "[Allocate] " << n * sizeof(T) << " bytes at " << static_cast<void*>(ptr)
+        //           << ". current timit: " << std::dec << memoryLimitRef_.load() << std::hex << " bytes.\n";
+        return ptr;
+    }
+
     // Deallocate memory for n objects of type T
-    void deallocate(T* ptr, std::size_t n) noexcept {
+    void deallocate(T* ptr, std::size_t n) noexcept 
+    {
         ::operator delete(ptr);
         memoryLimitRef_.fetch_add(n * sizeof(T), std::memory_order_relaxed);
         // std::cout << "[Deallocate] " << n * sizeof(T) << " bytes from " << static_cast<void*>(ptr)
@@ -70,12 +91,14 @@ public:
 
     // Equality operators (allocators are equal if they share the same counter)
     template <typename U>
-    bool operator==(const CountingAllocator<U>& other) const noexcept {
+    bool operator==(const CountingAllocator<U>& other) const noexcept 
+    {
         return &memoryLimitRef_ == &other.memoryLimitRef_;
     }
 
     template <typename U>
-    bool operator!=(const CountingAllocator<U>& other) const noexcept {
+    bool operator!=(const CountingAllocator<U>& other) const noexcept 
+    {
         return !(*this == other);
     }
 
diff --git a/utils/common/poolallocator.cpp b/utils/common/poolallocator.cpp
index 3e3966a1b..7341844c9 100644
--- a/utils/common/poolallocator.cpp
+++ b/utils/common/poolallocator.cpp
@@ -52,13 +52,13 @@ void PoolAllocator::deallocateAll()
 
 void PoolAllocator::newBlock()
 {
-  std::shared_ptr<uint8_t[]> next;
+  std::shared_ptr<PoolAllocatorBufType[]> next;
 
   capacityRemaining = allocSize;
 
   if (!tmpSpace || mem.size() == 0)
   {
-    next.reset(new uint8_t[allocSize]);
+    next.reset(new PoolAllocatorBufType[allocSize]);
     mem.push_back(next);
     nextAlloc = next.get();
   }
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ void* PoolAllocator::allocOOB(uint64_t size)
   OOBMemInfo memInfo;
 
   memUsage += size;
-  memInfo.mem.reset(new uint8_t[size]);
+  memInfo.mem.reset(new PoolAllocatorBufType[size]);
   memInfo.size = size;
   void* ret = (void*)memInfo.mem.get();
   oob[ret] = memInfo;
diff --git a/utils/common/poolallocator.h b/utils/common/poolallocator.h
index 9f5dff6e7..64042e927 100644
--- a/utils/common/poolallocator.h
+++ b/utils/common/poolallocator.h
@@ -33,8 +33,11 @@
 
 #include <atomic>
 
+#include "countingallocator.h"
+
 namespace utils
 {
+using PoolAllocatorBufType = uint8_t;
 class PoolAllocator
 {
  public:
@@ -51,6 +54,18 @@ class PoolAllocator
    , lock(false)
   {
   }
+  PoolAllocator(allocators::CountingAllocator<PoolAllocatorBufType>* allocator, unsigned windowSize = DEFAULT_WINDOW_SIZE,
+                bool isTmpSpace = false, bool _useLock = false)
+   : allocSize(windowSize)
+   , tmpSpace(isTmpSpace)
+   , capacityRemaining(0)
+   , memUsage(0)
+   , nextAlloc(0)
+   , useLock(_useLock)
+   , lock(false)
+   , allocator(allocator)
+  {
+  }
   PoolAllocator(const PoolAllocator& p)
    : allocSize(p.allocSize)
    , tmpSpace(p.tmpSpace)
@@ -59,6 +74,7 @@ class PoolAllocator
    , nextAlloc(0)
    , useLock(p.useLock)
    , lock(false)
+   , allocator(p.allocator)
   {
   }
   virtual ~PoolAllocator()
@@ -90,21 +106,23 @@ class PoolAllocator
   void* allocOOB(uint64_t size);
 
   unsigned allocSize;
-  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<uint8_t[]>> mem;
+  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<PoolAllocatorBufType[]>> mem;
   bool tmpSpace;
   unsigned capacityRemaining;
   uint64_t memUsage;
-  uint8_t* nextAlloc;
+  PoolAllocatorBufType* nextAlloc;
   bool useLock;
   std::atomic<bool> lock;
 
   struct OOBMemInfo
   {
-    std::shared_ptr<uint8_t[]> mem;
+    std::shared_ptr<PoolAllocatorBufType[]> mem;
     uint64_t size;
   };
   typedef std::map<void*, OOBMemInfo> OutOfBandMap;
   OutOfBandMap oob;  // for mem chunks bigger than the window size; these can be dealloc'd
+  // WIP rename to allocator
+  allocators::CountingAllocator<PoolAllocatorBufType>* allocator = nullptr;
 };
 
 inline void* PoolAllocator::allocate(uint64_t size)
@@ -136,4 +154,4 @@ inline void* PoolAllocator::allocate(uint64_t size)
   return ret;
 }
 
-}  // namespace utils
+}  // namespace allocators
diff --git a/utils/rowgroup/rowgroup.cpp b/utils/rowgroup/rowgroup.cpp
index 42ba63351..f111f2006 100644
--- a/utils/rowgroup/rowgroup.cpp
+++ b/utils/rowgroup/rowgroup.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 #include <iterator>
 using namespace std;
 
-
 #include <numeric>
 
 #include "bytestream.h"
@@ -49,7 +48,10 @@ namespace rowgroup
 {
 using cscType = execplan::CalpontSystemCatalog::ColDataType;
 
-
+StringStore::StringStore(allocators::CountingAllocator<StringStoreBufType>* alloc) : StringStore()
+{
+  this->alloc = alloc;
+}
 
 StringStore::~StringStore()
 {
@@ -94,11 +96,22 @@ uint64_t StringStore::storeString(const uint8_t* data, uint32_t len)
   if (mem.size() > 0)
     lastMC = (MemChunk*)mem.back().get();
 
+  std::cout << "StringStore::storeString len " << len << std::endl;
   if ((len + 4) >= CHUNK_SIZE)
   {
-    std::shared_ptr<uint8_t[]> newOne(new uint8_t[len + sizeof(MemChunk) + 4]);
-    longStrings.push_back(newOne);
-    lastMC = (MemChunk*)longStrings.back().get();
+    auto allocSize = len + sizeof(MemChunk) + 4;
+    if (alloc)
+    {
+      cout << "StringStore::storeString longStrings with alloc " << std::endl;
+      longStrings.emplace_back(std::allocate_shared<StringStoreBufType>(*alloc, allocSize));
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      cout << "StringStore::storeString longStrings no alloc " << std::endl;
+      longStrings.emplace_back(std::make_shared<uint8_t[]>(allocSize));
+    }
+    // std::shared_ptr<uint8_t[]> newOne(new uint8_t[len + sizeof(MemChunk) + 4]);
+    lastMC = reinterpret_cast<MemChunk*>(longStrings.back().get());
     lastMC->capacity = lastMC->currentSize = len + 4;
     memcpy(lastMC->data, &len, 4);
     memcpy(lastMC->data + 4, data, len);
@@ -112,10 +125,21 @@ uint64_t StringStore::storeString(const uint8_t* data, uint32_t len)
     {
       // mem usage debugging
       // if (lastMC)
-      // cout << "Memchunk efficiency = " << lastMC->currentSize << "/" << lastMC->capacity << endl;
-      std::shared_ptr<uint8_t[]> newOne(new uint8_t[CHUNK_SIZE + sizeof(MemChunk)]);
-      mem.push_back(newOne);
-      lastMC = (MemChunk*)mem.back().get();
+      if (alloc)
+      {
+        cout << "StringStore::storeString with alloc " << std::endl;
+        mem.emplace_back(std::allocate_shared<StringStoreBufType>(*alloc, CHUNK_SIZE + sizeof(MemChunk)));
+        // std::allocate_shared) newOne(new uint8_t[CHUNK_SIZE + sizeof(MemChunk)]);
+      }
+      else
+      {
+        cout << "StringStore::storeString no alloc " << std::endl;
+        mem.emplace_back(std::make_shared<uint8_t[]>(CHUNK_SIZE + sizeof(MemChunk)));
+        // mem.emplace_back(std::allocate_shared<StringStoreBufType>(*alloc, CHUNK_SIZE + sizeof(MemChunk)));
+        // std::shared_ptr<uint8_t[]> newOne(new uint8_t[CHUNK_SIZE + sizeof(MemChunk)]);
+      }
+      // mem.push_back(newOne);
+      lastMC = reinterpret_cast<MemChunk*>(mem.back().get());
       lastMC->currentSize = 0;
       lastMC->capacity = CHUNK_SIZE;
       memset(lastMC->data, 0, CHUNK_SIZE);
@@ -172,7 +196,7 @@ void StringStore::deserialize(ByteStream& bs)
 
   // mem.clear();
   bs >> count;
-  mem.resize(count);
+  // mem.resize(count);
   bs >> tmp8;
   empty = (bool)tmp8;
 
@@ -181,7 +205,18 @@ void StringStore::deserialize(ByteStream& bs)
     bs >> size;
     // cout << "deserializing " << size << " bytes\n";
     buf = bs.buf();
-    mem[i].reset(new uint8_t[size + sizeof(MemChunk)]);
+
+    if (alloc)
+    {
+      cout << "StringStore::deserialize with alloc " << std::endl;
+      mem.emplace_back(std::allocate_shared<StringStoreBufType>(*alloc, size + sizeof(MemChunk)));
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      cout << "StringStore::deserialize no alloc " << std::endl;
+      mem.emplace_back(std::make_shared<uint8_t[]>(size + sizeof(MemChunk)));
+    }
+    // mem[i].reset(new uint8_t[size + sizeof(MemChunk)]);
     mc = (MemChunk*)mem[i].get();
     mc->currentSize = size;
     mc->capacity = size;
@@ -302,7 +337,6 @@ void UserDataStore::deserialize(ByteStream& bs)
   return;
 }
 
-
 RGData::RGData(const RowGroup& rg, uint32_t rowCount)
 {
   // cout << "rgdata++ = " << __sync_add_and_fetch(&rgDataCount, 1) << endl;
@@ -313,7 +347,6 @@ RGData::RGData(const RowGroup& rg, uint32_t rowCount)
 
   userDataStore.reset();
 
-
 #ifdef VALGRIND
   /* In a PM-join, we can serialize entire tables; not every value has been
    * filled in yet.  Need to look into that.  Valgrind complains that
@@ -343,13 +376,44 @@ RGData::RGData(const RowGroup& rg)
 #endif
 }
 
+RGData::RGData(const RowGroup& rg, allocators::CountingAllocator<RGDataBufType>* alloc) : alloc(alloc)
+{
+  // rowData = shared_ptr<uint8_t[]>(buf, [alloc, allocSize](uint8_t* p) { alloc->deallocate(p, allocSize);
+  // });
+  rowData = std::allocate_shared<RGDataBufType>(*alloc, rg.getMaxDataSize());
+  // rowData = std::make_shared(uint8_t[rg.getMaxDataSize()]);
+
+  if (rg.usesStringTable())
+    strings.reset(new StringStore(alloc));
+
+  userDataStore.reset();
+
+#ifdef VALGRIND
+  /* In a PM-join, we can serialize entire tables; not every value has been
+   * filled in yet.  Need to look into that.  Valgrind complains that
+   * those bytes are uninitialized, this suppresses that error.
+   */
+  memset(rowData.get(), 0, rg.getMaxDataSize());
+#endif
+}
+
 void RGData::reinit(const RowGroup& rg, uint32_t rowCount)
 {
-  rowData.reset(new uint8_t[rg.getDataSize(rowCount)]);
+  if (alloc)
+  {
+    cout << "RGData::reinit with alloc " << std::endl;
+    rowData = std::allocate_shared<RGDataBufType>(*alloc, rg.getDataSize(rowCount));
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    cout << "RGData::reinit no alloc " << std::endl;
+    rowData.reset(new uint8_t[rg.getDataSize(rowCount)]);
+  }
+
   userDataStore.reset();
 
   if (rg.usesStringTable())
-    strings.reset(new StringStore());
+    strings.reset(new StringStore(alloc));
   else
     strings.reset();
 
@@ -1314,9 +1378,8 @@ string RowGroup::toString(const std::vector<uint64_t>& used) const
     os << "rowcount = " << getRowCount() << endl;
     if (!used.empty())
     {
-      uint64_t cnt =
-          std::accumulate(used.begin(), used.end(), 0ULL,
-                          [](uint64_t a, uint64_t bits) { return a + __builtin_popcountll(bits); });
+      uint64_t cnt = std::accumulate(used.begin(), used.end(), 0ULL, [](uint64_t a, uint64_t bits)
+                                     { return a + __builtin_popcountll(bits); });
       os << "sparse row count = " << cnt << endl;
     }
     os << "base rid = " << getBaseRid() << endl;
diff --git a/utils/rowgroup/rowgroup.h b/utils/rowgroup/rowgroup.h
index f72517fd8..5e6137009 100644
--- a/utils/rowgroup/rowgroup.h
+++ b/utils/rowgroup/rowgroup.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include <execinfo.h>
 
 
+#include "countingallocator.h"
 #include "hasher.h"
 
 #include "joblisttypes.h"
@@ -126,10 +127,15 @@ inline T derefFromTwoVectorPtrs(const std::vector<T>* outer, const std::vector<T
   return outer->operator[](outerIdx);
 }
 
+using RGDataBufType = uint8_t[];
+// using RGDataBufType = std::vector<uint8_t>;
+using StringStoreBufType = uint8_t[];
+
 class StringStore
 {
  public:
   StringStore() = default;
+  StringStore(allocators::CountingAllocator<StringStoreBufType>* alloc);
   StringStore(const StringStore&) = delete;
   StringStore(StringStore&&) = delete;
   StringStore& operator=(const StringStore&) = delete;
@@ -184,6 +190,7 @@ class StringStore
   bool empty = true;
   bool fUseStoreStringMutex = false;  //@bug6065, make StringStore::storeString() thread safe
   boost::mutex fMutex;
+  allocators::CountingAllocator<StringStoreBufType>* alloc = nullptr;
 };
 
 // Where we store user data for UDA(n)F
@@ -248,6 +255,7 @@ class UserDataStore
 class RowGroup;
 class Row;
 
+
 /* TODO: OO the rowgroup data to the extent there's no measurable performance hit. */
 class RGData
 {
@@ -255,6 +263,7 @@ class RGData
   RGData() = default;  // useless unless followed by an = or a deserialize operation
   RGData(const RowGroup& rg, uint32_t rowCount);  // allocates memory for rowData
   explicit RGData(const RowGroup& rg);
+  explicit RGData(const RowGroup& rg, allocators::CountingAllocator<RGDataBufType>* alloc);
   RGData& operator=(const RGData&) = default;
   RGData& operator=(RGData&&) = default;
   RGData(const RGData&) = default;
@@ -314,9 +323,10 @@ class RGData
   }
 
  private:
-  std::shared_ptr<uint8_t[]> rowData;
+  std::shared_ptr<RGDataBufType> rowData;
   std::shared_ptr<StringStore> strings;
   std::shared_ptr<UserDataStore> userDataStore;
+  allocators::CountingAllocator<RGDataBufType>* alloc = nullptr;
 
   // Need sig to support backward compat.  RGData can deserialize both forms.
   static const uint32_t RGDATA_SIG = 0xffffffff;  // won't happen for 'old' Rowgroup data
@@ -584,9 +594,9 @@ class Row
   }
 
   const CHARSET_INFO* getCharset(uint32_t col) const;
+ inline bool inStringTable(uint32_t col) const;
 
 private:
- inline bool inStringTable(uint32_t col) const;
 
 private:
   uint32_t columnCount = 0;
@@ -987,6 +997,7 @@ inline void Row::setStringField(const utils::ConstString& str, uint32_t colIndex
 
   if (inStringTable(colIndex))
   {
+    std::cout << "setStringField storeString len " << length << std::endl; 
     offset = strings->storeString((const uint8_t*)str.str(), length);
     *((uint64_t*)&data[offsets[colIndex]]) = offset;
     //		cout << " -- stored offset " << *((uint32_t *) &data[offsets[colIndex]])
@@ -995,6 +1006,7 @@ inline void Row::setStringField(const utils::ConstString& str, uint32_t colIndex
   }
   else
   {
+    std::cout << "setStringField memcpy " << std::endl; 
     memcpy(&data[offsets[colIndex]], str.str(), length);
     memset(&data[offsets[colIndex] + length], 0, offsets[colIndex + 1] - (offsets[colIndex] + length));
   }