Section 30. Definitions

Unless otherwise defined in this chapter or unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the terms used in this regulation shall have the meanings ascribed to them by the State Water Control Law, Chapter 3.1 (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq.) of Title 62.1 of the Code of Virginia; the Ground Water Management Act of 1992, Chapter 25 (§ 62.1-254 et seq.) of Title 62.1 of the Code of Virginia; the Virginia Water Protection Permit Program Regulation, 9VAC25-210; and the Surface Water Management Area Regulation, 9VAC25-220, including any general permits issued thereunder.

"Beneficial use" means both in-stream and offstream uses. In-stream beneficial uses include, but are not limited to, the protection of fish and wildlife habitat, maintenance of waste assimilation, recreation, navigation, and cultural and aesthetic values. Offstream beneficial uses include, but are not limited to, domestic (including public water supply), agricultural, electric power generation, and commercial and industrial uses.

"Board" means the State Water Control Board.

"Community water system" means a waterworks that serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents, and is regulated by the Virginia Department of Health Waterworks Regulations (12VAC5-590).

"Conservation" means practices, techniques, and technologies that improve the efficiency of water use.

"Department" means the Department of Environmental Quality.

"Local government" means a city, incorporated town or county.

"Local program" means the combined water plan, resource conditions, and drought response and contingency plan developed in compliance with this regulation. The term "local program" will be used in this regulation to mean either local or regional programs. The term "program" implies the institution of a continuous planning process for maintenance of these documents.

"Planning area" means the geographical area as defined by local government boundaries that is included in a local or regional water supply plan.

"Planning period" means the 30-year to 50-year time frame used by the locality to project future water demand in accordance with 9VAC25-780-100 B.

"Regional planning unit" means a collection of local governments who have voluntarily elected to develop and submit a regional water plan. A regional planning unit may be composed of all local governments located within the bounds of a planning district, any subset of local governments within the bounds of a planning district, or any group of local governments within multiple planning districts.

"Regional water plan" means a water plan developed and submitted by two or more cities or counties or both. A town and an adjacent county may develop a regional water plan. Two or more towns may develop and submit a regional water plan where the plan results in the proposed development of future water supply projects that address the water supply demands of the affected towns. Such plans developed by two or more towns may be included in regional water plans developed and submitted by counties or cities. Regional water plans shall be developed and submitted in conjunction with all public service authorities operating community water systems within the regional planning unit, if applicable.

"Self-supplied user" means any person making a withdrawal of surface water or ground water from an original source (e.g., a river, stream, lake, aquifer, or reservoir fed by any such water body) for their own use. Self-supplied users do not receive water from a community water system.

"Service area" means the geographical area served by a community water system.

"Technical evaluation committee" means a committee of state agencies, including but not limited to the Department of Health, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Marine Resources Commission, the Department of Historic Resources, and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, convened by the Department of Environmental Quality in accordance with subdivision 8 of 9VAC25-780-60 to provide comments on the impacts to or conflicts among in-stream and offstream uses resulting from proposed alternatives for meeting projected water demands.

"Unaccounted for losses" means the difference between a community water system's billing records for volumes of water distributed and production records for volumes of water treated.

"Water demand management" means plans for water conservation, reuse, and reducing unaccounted for water losses contained in a local program.

"Water plan" means a document developed in compliance with this regulation. The term "water plan" will be used in this regulation to mean either local or regional water plans.

"Water sources" means wells, stream intakes, and reservoirs that serve as sources of water supplies.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 22, Issue 02, eff. November 2, 2005; Errata, 22:4 VA.R. 660 October 31, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 21, eff. July 26, 2006; Volume 31, Issue 21, eff. July 30, 2015.

Statutory Authority

§§ 62.1-44.15 and 62.1-44.38:1 of the Code of Virginia.