79151
. Unless the context otherwise requires, the following
definitions govern the construction of this chapter:
(a) "Account" means the Water Conservation Account created by
Section 79152.
(b) (1) "Water conservation program or project" means those
feasible capital outlay measures undertaken to improve the efficiency
of water use through projects, the benefits of which exceed the
costs.
(2) The programs include, but are not limited to, all of the
following:
(A) The lining or piping of ditches.
(B) Improvements in water distribution system controls such as
automated canal control, construction of small reservoirs within
distribution systems that conserve water that has already been
captured for use, and related physical improvements.
(C) Tailwater pumpback recovery systems.
(D) Major improvements to, or replacement of, deteriorated
distribution systems to reduce leakage and maximize conservation.
(E) Capital outlay features of agricultural water conservation
programs identified in the "Memorandum of Understanding Regarding
Efficient Agricultural Water Management Practices," dated July 16,
1997, and endorsed by the Agricultural Water Management Council, and
any amendments thereto.
(c) "Economically disadvantaged area" means any area of the state
for which both of the following statements apply:
(1) A median household income that is less than forty thousand
dollars ($40,000) based on the most recent federal census.
(2) An annual average unemployment rate that is greater than 9
percent based on the most recent federal census.
(d) (1) "Groundwater recharge facilities" means lands and
facilities for artificial groundwater recharge through methods that
include, but are not limited to, percolation using basins, pits,
ditches, and furrows, modified streambeds, flooding, and well
injection. For the purposes of this chapter, expenditures for
"groundwater recharge facilities" include capital outlay expenditures
to expand, renovate, or restructure land and facilities used for the
purposes of groundwater recharge and to acquire additional land for
recharge basins.
(2) Groundwater recharge facilities may include any of the
following:
(A) Instream facilities for regulation of water levels, but not
regulation of streamflow to accomplish diversion from the waterway.
(B) Agency-owned facilities for extraction.
(C) Conveyance facilities to convey water to the recharge site,
including devices for flow regulation and measurement of recharge
waters.
(3) Any part or all of the project facilities, including the land
under the facilities, may consist of separable features, or an
appropriate share of multipurpose features, of a larger system, or
both.
(e) "Infrastructure rehabilitation project" means a project
located in an economically disadvantaged area for the repair,
replacement, restoration, or rehabilitation of an existing water
distribution system that delivers water for domestic, municipal, or
industrial uses, including pipelines, pump stations, valves, meters,
reservoirs, and all other appurtenant water delivery facilities that
result in the reduction or elimination of significant distribution
system water losses or replace a failing system component that
threatens the health, safety, welfare, and economy of areas relying
on the water distribution system.
(f) "Local agency" or "agency" means any city, county, city and
county, district, joint powers authority, or other political
subdivision of the state involved with water management. "Local
agency" or "agency" also means a mutual water company. For purposes
of this chapter, mutual water company means a nonprofit corporation
organized for, or engaged in the business of, developing,
distributing, supplying, or delivering water for irrigation or
domestic use, or both, to its members or shareholders, at actual cost
plus necessary expenses.
(g) "Project" may include any of the following:
(1) Water conservation project.
(2) Groundwater recharge facilities.
(3) Urban water conservation project.
(4) Infrastructure rehabilitation project.
(h) "Urban water conservation project" means capital outlay
features of urban water conservation programs identified in the
"Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Urban Water Conservation in
California," as amended on April 8, 1998, by the California Urban
Water Conservation Council, and any amendments thereto.