Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

     (1) "Account" means the water quality account in the state treasury.

     (2) "Department" means the department of ecology.

     (3) "Eligible cost" means the cost of that portion of a water pollution control facility that can be financed under this chapter excluding any portion of a facility's cost attributable to capacity that is in excess of that reasonably required to address one hundred ten percent of the applicant's needs for water pollution control existing at the time application is submitted for assistance under this chapter.

     (4) "Water pollution control facility" or "facilities" means any facilities or systems for the control, collection, storage, treatment, disposal, or recycling of wastewater, including but not limited to sanitary sewage, storm water, residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural wastes, which are causing water quality degradation due to concentrations of conventional, nonconventional, or toxic pollutants. Water pollution control facilities include all equipment, utilities, structures, real property, and interests in and improvements on real property necessary for or incidental to such purpose. Water pollution control facilities also include such facilities, equipment, and collection systems as are necessary to protect federally designated sole source aquifers.

     (5) "Water pollution control activities" means actions taken by a public body for the following purposes: (a) To prevent or mitigate pollution of underground water; (b) to control nonpoint sources of water pollution; (c) to restore the water quality of fresh water lakes; and (d) to maintain or improve water quality through the use of water pollution control facilities or other means. During the 1995-1997 fiscal biennium, "water pollution control activities" includes activities by state agencies to protect public drinking water supplies and sources.

     (6) "Public body" means the state of Washington or any agency, county, city or town, conservation district, other political subdivision, municipal corporation, quasi-municipal corporation, and those Indian tribes now or hereafter recognized as such by the federal government.

     (7) "Water pollution" means such contamination, or other alteration of the physical, chemical, or biological properties of any waters of the state, including change in temperature, taste, color, turbidity, or odor of the waters, or such discharge of any liquid, gaseous, solid, radioactive, or other substance into any waters of the state as will or is likely to create a nuisance or render such waters harmful, detrimental, or injurious to the public health, safety, or welfare, or to domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, or other legitimate beneficial uses, or to livestock, wild animals, birds, fish, or other aquatic life.

     (8) "Nonpoint source water pollution" means pollution that enters any waters of the state from any dispersed water-based or land-use activities, including, but not limited to, atmospheric deposition, surface water runoff from agricultural lands, urban areas, and forest lands, subsurface or underground sources, and discharges from boats or other marine vessels.

     (9) "Sole source aquifer" means the sole or principal source of public drinking water for an area designated by the administrator of the environmental protection agency pursuant to Public Law 93-523, Sec. 1424(b).

[1995 2nd sp.s. c 18 § 920; 1993 sp.s. c 24 § 923; 1987 c 436 § 5; 1986 c 3 § 2.]

NOTES:

     Severability -- Effective date -- 1995 2nd sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 19.118.110.

     Severability -- Effective dates -- 1993 sp.s. c 24: See notes following RCW 28A.310.020.

     Effective dates -- 1986 c 3: See note following RCW 82.24.027.