§ 22-22. Definitions.

Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used herein shall be as follows:

Authority: Western Virginia Water Authority (WVWA).

Central water system: Any water supply system serving three (3) or more structures, dwellings, or equivalent residential connections (ERC's).

Central sewer/sewerage system: Any sewage collection and/or treatment system or facility serving, or treating waste volumes equal to, three (3) or more structures, dwellings, or equivalent residential connections (ERC's).

Community (public) water system: Any water supply system serving fifteen (15) or more structures, dwellings or equivalent residential connections (ERC's) or an average of twenty-five (25) individuals for at least sixty (60) days out of the year. These systems must be approved by the State Health Department.

County: The County of Franklin, Virginia.

County approving authority: The Franklin County Board of Supervisors or its authorized and/or delegated representative.

Equivalent residential connection (ERC): An equivalent residential connection (ERC) is the water (sewer) use consumed (produced) by a typical residential connection over a specified period of time (gallons per day or gallons per month). An equivalent residential connection (ERC) is equal to a minimum of three hundred (300) gallons per day (GPD) unless supportive data indicate otherwise and the variation is approved by the county. Design flows shall be based on the current Virginia Department of Health Waterworks Regulations and the State Water Control Board Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations, and any governing state regulations subsequently approved.

Existing water system: An existing water system is considered to be a publicly or privately owned water system that serves three (3) or more connections and is currently in operation.

Expanding water system: An existing water system is considered an expanding water system any time the owner(s), developer(s), or operator(s) of such existing water system serving three (3) or more structures, dwellings, or equivalent residential connections (ERCs) seek(s) approval by regulatory agencies and/or subdivision or site plan approval by Franklin County in order to subdivide or develop a site to serve one or more additional customers or to expand service to an existing customer in an area served or to be served by the water system where water system plans have not been reviewed and approved by Franklin County, or its assigns, for conformance with chapter 22 of the Franklin County Code, and for subdivision and/or site plan approval under chapter 19 and/or chapter 25 of the Franklin County Code. The design of an expanding water system including the addition or substitution of a water source, provision of water treatment, revision of water storage facilities, or construction of water service facilities must be reviewed and approved for conformity with chapter 22 by the public works department, its successors or assigns, and shall not be constructed or supply water until the expanding water system receives such approvals.

Failed system: A failed system shall be any system that is unable to meet the capacity and water quality standards as set forth by VDH and DEQ regulations. A system will not be deemed failed for routine maintenance or repairs. Re-drilling will be subject to VDH approval.

Force mains (sewer): Pipes used to remove wastewater under pressure against the force of gravity; this allows for the transfer of sewage between natural drainage basins or conveyance of wastewater at minimal slopes over relatively long distances.

Individual septic tank system: An on-site wastewater disposal system that provides service to one dwelling unit. The system utilizes a biological process for waste reduction requiring a settling tank (septic tank) and a distribution network/dispose field (drainfield). Effluent disposal is accomplished through subsurface discharge and absorption.

Interceptor: Any pipe, regardless of size, that carries wastewater directly to the treatment plant. Generally, they are the largest pipes in the collection system, designed to convey sewage from one point to another with very few service connections (laterals) attached.

Lateral: The pipe to which individual houses and business establishments attach. If one considers the analogy of tree, the laterals represent the twigs.

Nonpotable water: Water classified as unsuitable for human consumption.

Pit privies: Individual on-site disposal systems that consist of a pit dug in the ground with a small out-house (privy) located over it. The system provides minimal biological treatment in the pit before absorption of the waste into the ground surrounding the pit.

Potable (or finished) water: Water classified as suitable for human consumption.

Public water system: See "community water system."

Pump station: A station that consists of electrically driven pumps to pump water or wastewater from a low area to a higher area (i.e., from one drainage basin over a ridge line to another drainage basin).

Raw water: See "non-potable water."

Sanitary sewers: Sewers that carry only domestic or commercial sewage. Stormwater runoff is normally carried in a separate system. See "sewer."

Septic tank: The most popular on-site treatment technique. It relies on a collection tank which receives waste from the home and provides a period of settling, during which a significant portion of suspended solids settle out and are gradually decomposed by bacterial action at the bottom of the tank. The remaining sewage is discharged into a drain field composed of lengths of porous or perforated pipe placed at shallow depths. A well-designed and maintained septic system will provide ecologically sound treatment.

Service area: The territory included within the boundaries of each or all of the areas of Franklin County which are served by, or proposed to be served by, water and/or sanitary sewerage facilities.

Service connection: The terminal end of a supply connection from the potable water system; that is, where the water purveyor loses jurisdiction and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery into the customer's water system. If a meter is installed at the end of a supply connection, then the service connection shall mean the downstream end of the meter. Service connection shall also include water service connection from a fire hydrant and all other temporary or emergency water service connections from the potable water system.

Sewage: Sewage refers to the wastewater flow from residential, commercial and industrial establishments which flows through the pipes to a treatment plant.

Sewer: The term "sewer" refers to the pipe, conduit, or other physical facility used to carry off wastewater.

Sewerage: "Sewerage" refers to the system of sewers and the physical facilities employed to transport, treat, and discharge sewage.

Sludge: The accumulated settled solids deposited from sewage or industrial wastes, raw or treated, in tanks or basins, and containing some water forming a semi-liquid mass.

Service area: The area which will be serviced by a wastewater or water system.

User charges: Fees levied upon users of water or wastewater treatment systems based upon the volume of usage or the pollutant load imposed on the system.

Waste, domestic: Water-carried liquid or solid wastes which are derived principally from residential dwellings.

Waste, industrial: Water-carried liquid or solid wastes from institutional establishments and/or industrial plant processes.

Water filtration or water treatment plant: Any arrangement of devices and structures used for the treatment and/or purification of nonpotable or raw water.

Water quality limited: Stream segments which will not meet water quality standards with the application of uniform point source controls. Additional pollution control measures for industrial and municipal discharges will be required if water quality standards are to be achieved.

Water quality standard: A plan for water quality management containing four (4) major elements: the use (recreation, drinking water, fish and wildlife propagation, industrial or agricultural) to be made of the water; criteria to protect those uses; implementation plans (for needed industrial or municipal waste treatment improvements) and enforcement plans; and an antidegradation statement to protect existing high quality waters.

Water service connection: The water service connection of a public or central water supply shall be considered the effluent (outlet) connection of the water meter. The water service connection of an individual or private water supply shall be considered the effluent (outlet) pipe of the pressure tank.

Well: Any ground penetration arrangement, hole or artificial excavation used to supply water, either raw or potable. Wells of depths greater than sixty (60) feet in unconsolidated formations shall be classified as deep wells.

(Res. No. 09-05-2011, 5-17-11)

(Res. No. 09-05-2011, 5-17-11)