Definitions and  References to Outlet Control Structure (weir)

The Outlet Control Structure is not a weir

DIVISION 300 DEFINITIONS 

Chapter 690  Definitions  

OAR 690-400 OWRD Policy & Definitions

690-400-0010 Definitions 

Point of Diversion Defined  

Definition of a Public Water System 

Unconfined aquifer 

Water footprint

Water System Definition   

National Handbook~Glossary

N. American Lake Mgmt Society Glossary Search

Watershed Mgt. Glossary, Alberta

Water Words Dictionary NV Div of Water Resources 

Dunes City Comprehensive Plan Reference

ODOT holds a Water Right Certificate

Dunes City Council Workshop 6/6/07

Dunes City Council Minutes 7/12/07

Official meeting links of mention

Location Pictures           Forest Service Map ('96)

Dunes City's Water Permits 

Domestic Permit #33923 10-07-68         Municipal Permit 2044501 08-21-78     

Storage Permit #R-14131 10-28-04         Use Storage #S-54405 08-25-05         Amendment #T-9854 12-02-05

The Outlet Control Structure is not a weir. 

OAR 690-380-0100 says, "Where a term is defined in more than one rule, the definition in this rule applies."

What's an unconfined aquifer?       What's surface water?

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Oregon State Archives Administrative Rules                                                              [top] 

The Oregon Administrative Rules contain OARs filed through December 15, 2008

WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

DIVISION 300  DEFINITIONS

690-300-0010

Definitions

The following definitions apply in OAR Chapter 690, Divisions 15, 310, 320, 330, 340, and 350 and to any permits, certificates or transfers issued under these rules:

(1) "Affected Local Government" means any local government as defined in OAR 690-005-0015 within whose jurisdiction water is or would be diverted, conveyed, or used under a proposed or approved permit, water right transfer, or certificate.

(2) "Agricultural Water Use" means the use of water related to the production of agricultural products. These uses include, but are not limited to, construction, operation and maintenance of agricultural facilities and livestock sanitation at farms, ranches, dairies and nurseries. Examples of these uses include, but are not limited to, dust control, temperature control, animal waste management, barn or farm sanitation, dairy operation, and fire control. Such use shall not include irrigation. 

(3) "Aquatic Life Water Use" means the use of water to support natural or artificial propagation and sustenance of fish and other aquatic life. 

(4) "Artificial Groundwater Recharge" means the intentional addition of water to a groundwater reservoir by diversion from another source. 

(5) "Beneficial Use" means the reasonably efficient use of water without waste for a purpose consistent with the laws, rules and the best interests of the people of the state. 

(6) "Commercial Water Use" means use of water related to the production, sale or delivery of goods, services or commodities by a public or private entity. These uses include, but are not limited to, construction, operation and maintenance of commercial facilities. Examples of commercial facilities include, but are not limited to, an office, resort, recreational facility, motel, hotel, gas station, kennel, store, medical facility, and veterinary hospital. Examples of water uses in such facilities include, but are not limited to, human consumption, sanitation, food processing, and fire protection. Such uses shall not include the irrigation or landscape maintenance of more than 1/2 acre. 

(7) "Comment" means a written statement concerning a particular proposed water use. The comment may identify elements of the application which, in the opinion of the commenter, would conflict with an existing water right or would impair or be detrimental to the public interest. 

(8) "Commission" means the Water Resources Commission. 

(9) "Contested Case" means a hearing before the Department or Commission as defined in ORS 183.310(2) and conducted according to the procedures described in ORS Chapter 53, ORS 183.413 - 183.497 and OAR Chapter 690, Division 2. 

(10) "Cranberry Use" means all necessary beneficial uses of water for growing, protecting and harvesting cranberries. Examples of these uses include, but are not limited to, irrigation of cranberries or other crops in rotation, chemical application, flooding for harvesting or pest control, and temperature control. 

(11) "Deficiency of Rate Right" means an additional right allowed from the same source for the same use at the same place of use when an earlier right does not allow a full duty or rate of flow of water. 

(12) "Department" means the Water Resources Department. 

(13) "Director" means the Director of the Department. 

(14) "Domestic Water Use" means the use of water for human consumption, household purposes, domestic animal consumption that is ancillary to residential use of the property or related accessory uses. 

(15) "Domestic Use Expanded" means the use of water, in addition to that allowed for domestic use, for watering up to 1/2-acre of lawn or noncommercial garden. 

(16) "Drainage Basin", as used in OAR 690-340-0020, 690-340-0030 and 690-340-0050, means hydrologic unit delineated as a cataloging unit by the US geological Survey Office of Water Data Coordination on the State Hydrologic Unit map.

(17) "Fire Protection Water Use" means the use and storage of water for the purpose of extinguishing fires or reducing the potential outbreak of fires. 

(18) "Fish Bypass Structure", as used in OAR 690-340-0010, means any pipe, flume, open channel or other means of conveyance that transports fish that have entered a water diversion structure back to the body of water from which the fish were diverted. 

(19) "Fish Screen", as used in OAR 690-340-0010, means a screen, bar, rack trap or other barrier at a water diversion to entrap or provide adequate protection for fish populations, including related improvements necessary to insure its effective operation. 

(20) "Fishway," as used in OAR 690-340-0010, means any structure, facility or device used to facilitate upstream or downstream passage of fish through, over or around any man-made or natural barrier to free movement. 

(21) "Forestland and Rangeland Management," as used in Chapter 595, Oregon Laws 1993, means water used for operations conducted on or pertaining to forestlands and rangelands. Such uses may include, but are not limited to, reforestation, road construction and maintenance, harvesting, vegetation management, and disposal of slash. Such use shall not include irrigation. 

(22) "Groundwater Reservoir" means a designated body of standing or moving groundwater as defined in ORS 537.515(5). 

(23) "Group Domestic Water Use" means the use of water for domestic water use by more than one residence or dwelling unit. 

(24) "Human Consumption" means the use of water for the purposes of drinking, cooking, and sanitation. 

(25) "Industrial Water Use" means the use of water associated with the processing or manufacture of a product. These uses include, but are not limited to, construction, operation and maintenance of an industrial site, facilities and buildings and related uses. Examples of these uses include, but are not limited to, general construction; road construction; non-hydroelectric power production, including down-hole heat exchange and geothermal; agricultural or forest product processing; and fire protection. Such use shall not include irrigation or landscape maintenance of more than 1/2 acre. 

(26) "Irrigation" means the artificial application of water to crops or plants by controlled means to promote growth or nourish crops or plants. Examples of these uses include, but are not limited to, watering of an agricultural crop, commercial garden, tree farm, orchard, park, golf course, play field or vineyard and alkali abatement.                                     [top] 

(27) "Mining Water Use" means the use of water for extraction, preliminary grading, or processing of minerals or aggregate at a mining site or construction, operation and maintenance of a mining site. These uses include, but are not limited to, general construction, road construction, and dust control. Examples of mining include, but are not limited to, aggregate, hard rock, heap leach and placer mining. 

(28) "Municipal Corporation" means any county, city, town or district as defined in ORS 198.010 or 198.180(5) that is authorized by law to supply water for usual and ordinary municipal water uses. 

(29) "Municipal Water Use" means the delivery and use of water through the water service system of a municipal corporation for all water uses usual and ordinary to such systems. Examples of these water uses shall include but are not limited to domestic water use, irrigation of lawns and gardens, commercial water use, industrial water use, fire protection, irrigation and other water uses in park and recreation facilities, and street washing. Such uses shall not include generation of hydroelectric power. 

(30) "Nursery Operations Use" means the use of water for operation of a commercial nursery which may include temperature control, watering of containerized stock, soil preparation, application of chemicals or fertilizers, watering within greenhouses and uses to construct, operate and maintain nursery facilities. The use of water within plant nursery operations constitutes a different use from field irrigation, although that may be a part of nursery use. If used for field irrigation for nursery stock, such use is not restricted to the defined agricultural irrigation season. 

(31) "Off-Channel" means outside a natural waterway of perceptible extent which, during average water years, seasonally or continuously contains moving water that flows off the property owned by the applicant and has a definite bed and banks which serve to confine the water. "Off-channel" may include the collection of storm water run-off, snow melt or seepage which, during average water years, does not flow through a defined channel and does not flow off the property owned by the applicant. 

(32) "Planned" means a determination has been made for a specific course of action either by a legislative, administrative or budgetary action of a public body, or by engineering, design work, or other investment toward approved construction by both the public and private sector. 

(33) "Planned Uses" means the use or uses of water or land which has/have been planned as defined in this section. Such uses include, but are not limited to, the uses approved in the policies, provisions, and maps contained in acknowledged city and county comprehensive plans and land use regulations. 

(34) "Pollution Abatement or Pollution Prevention Water Use" means the use of water to dilute, transport or prevent pollution. 

(35) "Power Development Water Use" means the use of the flow of water to develop electrical or mechanical power. Examples of these uses include, but are not limited to, the use of water for the operation of a hydraulic ram or water wheel and hydroelectric power production. 

(36) "Primary Right" means the right to store water in a reservoir or the water right designated by the commission as the principle water supply for the authorized use, or if no designation has been made, the first in time or initial appropriation. 

(37) "Proposed Certificate" means a draft version of a water right certificate describing the elements and extent of the water right developed under the terms of a permit or transfer approval order, as determined by field investigation. 

(38) "Protest" means a written statement expressing disagreement with a proposed final order that is filed in the manner and has the content described in ORS 537.145 to 537.240. 

(39) "Public Corporation" means a corporation which operates subject to control by a local government entity or officers of a local government and which, at least in part, is organized to serve a public purpose of, and receives public funds or other support having monetary value, from such government.                                                                             [top] 

(40) "Quasi-Municipal Water Use" means the delivery and use of water through the water service system of a corporation other than a public corporation created for the purpose of operating a water supply system, for those uses usual and ordinary to municipal water use, or a federally recognized Indian tribe that operates a water supply system for uses usual and ordinary to a municipal water use. A quasi-municipal water right shall not be granted the statutory municipal preferences given to a municipality under ORS 537.190(2), 537.230(1), 537.352, 537.410(2), 540.510(3), 540.610(2), (3), or those preferences over minimum streamflows designated in a basin program. 

(41) "Rate and Duty of Water for Irrigation" means the maximum flow of water in cubic feet per second or gallons per minute (instantaneous rate) and the total volume of water in acre-feet per acre per year that may be diverted for irrigation. 

(42) "Recharge Permit" means a permit for the appropriation of water for the purpose of artificial groundwater recharge. 

(43) "Recreation Water Use" means the use of water for play, relaxation or amusement. Examples of these uses include, but are not limited to boating, fishing, wading, swimming, and scenic values. 

(44) "Riparian Area" means a zone of transition from an aquatic ecosystem to a terrestrial ecosystem, dependent upon surface or subsurface water, that reveals through the zone's existing or potential soil-vegetation complex, the influence of such surface or subsurface water. A riparian area may be located adjacent to a lake, reservoir, estuary, pothole, spring, bog, wet meadow, or ephemeral, intermittent or perennial stream. 

(45) "Secondary Groundwater Permit" means a permit for the appropriation of groundwater which was stored through the exercise of a recharge permit or certificate. 

(46) "Stockwater Use" means the use of water for consumption by domesticated animals and wild animals held in captivity as pets or for profit. 

(47) "Storage" means the retention or impoundment of surface or groundwater by artificial means for public or private uses and benefits. 

(48) "Stored Recharge Water" means groundwater which results from artificial groundwater recharge. 

(49) "Storage Account" means a net volume of artificially recharged groundwater which is calculated for a single recharge activity from a formula specified in a single recharge permit which records additions to a groundwater reservoir by artificial recharge and depletions from a groundwater reservoir by pumping and natural losses. 

(50) "Storm Water Management Water Use" means the use or storage of water in any structure or drainage way that is designed, constructed and maintained to collect and filter, retain or detain surface water runoff during and after a storm event for the purpose of water quality improvement, flood control or property protection. It may also include, but is not limited to, existing features such as wetlands, water quality swales, and ponds which are maintained as storm water quality facilities. 

(51) "Stream or Riparian Area Enhancement Water Use" means the use of water to restore or enhance a stream or riparian area. 

(52) "Supplemental Water Right or Supplemental Water Use Permit" means an additional appropriation of water to make up a deficiency in supply from an existing water right. A supplemental water right is used in conjunction with a primary water right. 

(53) "Surplus Waters" means all waters in excess of those needed to satisfy current existing rights and minimum streamflows established by the Commission. 

(54) "Temperature Control" means the use of water to protect a growing crop from damage from extreme temperatures. 

(55) "Transfer" means a change of use or place of use or point of diversion of a water right.                                                                                                                                       [top] 

(56) "Wastewater" means water that has been diverted under an authorized water right after it is beyond the control of the owner or that right but has not yet returned to the channel of a natural stream. In an irrigation district, the wastewater of an individual user is not subject to appropriation until it leaves the boundaries of the district. Wastewater abandoned to the channel of a natural stream becomes a part of that stream and is subject to appropriation. 

(57) "Water is Available," when used in OAR 690-310-0080, 690-310-0110 and 690-310-0130, means: 

(a) The requested source is not over-appropriated under OAR 690-400-0010 and 690-410-0070 during any period of the proposed use; or 

(b) If the requested source is already over-appropriated for any portion of the period of use proposed in a new application: 

(A) The applicant can show the proposed use requires water only during the period of time in which the requested source is not already over-appropriated; 

(B) The applicant has obtained or has shown the applicant can obtain authorization to use water from an alternate source to provide water needed during any period of use in which the source is over-appropriated; or 

(C) If the applicant has shown they can obtain authorization to use water from an alternate source during the time water is unavailable, the department conditions the approval of the application to require that prior to diversion of water the applicant obtains authorization for use of water from the alternate source. 

(c) For surface water applications received before July 17, 1992, the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall apply except that the determination of whether a requested source is over-appropriated under OAR 690-400-0010 and 690-410-0070 shall be based upon whether the quantity of water available during a specified period is not sufficient to meet the expected demands for all water rights at least 50 percent of the time during that period. 

(58) "Water Availability Analysis" means the investigation of stream flow or groundwater measurement records, watermaster distribution records, flow requirements of existing water rights, stream flow modeling in ungauged basins, minimum perennial streamflows, or scenic waterway flow requirements to determine if water is available to support the proposed water use. 

(59) "Water Right Subject to a Transfer" means a right established by a court decree or evidenced by a valid water right certificate, or a right for which proof of beneficial use of water under a water right permit or transfer has been submitted to and approved by the Director but for which a certificate has not yet been issued.                                                                        [top] 

(60) "Wetland" means an area that is inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. 

(61) "Wetland Enhancement Water Use" means the use of water to restore, create, or enhance or maintain wetland resources. 

(62) "Wildlife Water Use" means the use of water by or for sustaining wildlife species and their habitat. 

Stat. Auth.: ORS 536.027

Stats. Implemented: ORS 536, ORS 537, ORS 539, ORS 540 & ORS 541

Hist.: WRD 6-1987, f. & ef. 6-11-87; WRD 5-1988, f. & cert. ef. 6-28-88; WRD 12-1990, f. & cert. ef. 8-8-90; WRD 16-1990, f. & cert. ef. 8-23-90; WRD 9-1992, f. & cert. ef. 7-1-92; WRD 4-1993, f. & cert. ef. 10-7-93; WRD 6-1993, f. & cert. ef. 11-30-93; WRD 5-1994, f. & cert. ef. 4-13-94; WRD 7-1994, f. & cert. ef. 6-14-94; WRD 5-1995(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 8-4-95; WRD 1-1996, f. & cert. ef. 1-31-96, Renumbered from 690-011-0010; WRD 3-1996, f. & cert. ef. 3-15-96; WRD 2-1998, f. & cert. ef. 10-13-98 

 

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OAR 690-300 Definitions and 690-300 definitions                                             [top] 

Oregon Bulletin

November 1, 2006  

Water Resources Department

Chapter 690 

690-380-0100 

Definitions 

The definitions in this rule, along with the definitions in OAR 690-008-0001 and 690-300-0010, apply to the rules in OAR chapter 690, division 380. Where a term is defined in more than one rule, the definition in this rule applies. 

(1) “District” means an irrigation district formed under ORS Chapter 545, a drainage district formed under ORS Chapter 547, a water improvement district formed under ORS Chapter 552, a water control district formed under ORS Chapter 553 or a corporation organized under ORS Chapter 554. 

(2) “Enlargement” means an expansion of a water right and includes, but is not limited to: 

(a) Using a greater rate or duty of water per acre than currently allowed under a right; 

(b) Increasing the acreage irrigated under a right; 

(c) Failing to keep the original place of use from receiving water from the same source; or 

(d) Diverting more water at the new point of diversion or appropriation than is legally available to that right at the original point of diversion or appropriation. 

(3) “Injury” or “Injury to an existing water right” means a proposed transfer would result in another, existing water right not receiving previously available water to which it is legally entitled. 

(4) “Layered” means a situation in which there are multiple water uses subject to transfer, permits, or certificates of registration that are appurtenant to the same place of use and that have been issued for the purpose of irrigation. 

(5) “ODFW” means the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.                                              [top] 

(6) “Point of appropriation” means a well or the pump location on a sump at which ground water is withdrawn from the ground for use under a ground water right. 

(7) “Point of diversion” means the place at which surface water is diverted from a surface water source as specified in the water right. It may be the head of a ditch, a pump suction line, the center line of a dam, or other point at which control is taken of surface water. 

(8) “Primary water right” means the water right designated by the Commission as the principal water supply for the authorized use, or if no designation has been made, the water right designated by the applicant as the principal water supply for the authorized use. 

(9) “Protest” means a written statement expressing opposition to approval of a transfer application and disagreement with a preliminary determination that is filed in response to the notice prescribed by ORS 540.520(5) and OAR 690-380-4020 and includes the fee prescribed in ORS 536.050. 

(10) “Report of ownership and lien information” means a document prepared by a title company that includes current ownership, a legal description of the lands, identification of lien holders, and if a water right conveyance agreement has been recorded for the subject lands, a copy of the agreement and identification of the owner of the lands at the time the agreement was recorded. 

(11) “Standing statement” means a written statement expressing support for a preliminary determination that is filed in response to the notice prescribed by ORS 540.520(5) and OAR 690-380-4020. 

(12) “Supplemental water right or permit” means an additional appropriation of water to make up a deficiency in supply from an existing water right. A supplemental water right or permit is used in conjunction with a primary water right. 

(13) “Water right conveyance agreement” means a purchase and sale agreement, deed, or other document that has been recorded in the deed records by the relevant county describing land to which a water right is appurtenant and demonstrating that the interest in that land and the interest in the appurtenant water right have been separately conveyed. 

(14) “Water use subject to transfer” means a water use established by: 

(a) An adjudication under ORS Chapter 539 as evidenced by court decree;            [top] 

(b) A water right certificate; 

(c) A water use permit for which a request for issuance of a water right certificate under ORS 537.250 has been received and approved by the Commission under ORS 537.250; or 

(d) A transfer application for which an order approving the change has been issued under ORS 540.530 and for which proper proof of completion of the change has been filed with the Commission. 

Stat. Auth.: ORS 536.025 & 536.027 

Stats. Implemented: ORS 540.510 - 540.532 

Hist.: WRD 7-1987, f. & ef. 6-11-87; WRD 10-1988, f. & cert. ef. 8-10-88; WRD 5-1996, f. & cert. ef. 7-11-96; WRD 2-2003, f. & cert. ef. 5-1-03, Renumbered from 690-015-0005; WRD 8-2004, f. & cert. ef. 11-5-04; WRD 5-2006, f. & cert. ef. 10-6-06 

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OAR 690-400 OWRD Policy & Definitions

The Oregon Administrative Rules contain OARs filed through October 13, 2006 

WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT                                                                   [top] 

DIVISION 400  

STATE WATER RESOURCES POLICY 

690-400-0000  

Purpose and Authorization  

(1) These rules, and those contained in Division 410, establish statewide policies and principles pertaining to a wide range of water-related topics. All Water Resources Commission and Department activities, including but not limited to: 

(a) Basin planning; 

(b) Interagency coordination; and 

(c) Development and adoption of rules, standards, and implementing strategies to govern Department programs and activities, shall be compatible with these rules and those contained in Division 410. 

(2) ORS 536.220 authorizes a single state agency, the Water Resources Commission, to formulate and implement an integrated, coordinated state water resources policy. The Water Resources Commission shall progressively formulate plans and programs to develop the water resources of the state and provide for the enforcement of state water policy. State water resources policy must promote the maximum beneficial use of the waters of the state. Multiple water uses shall be preferred over single-purpose uses. Existing water rights shall be protected in accordance with relative priority dates except as they may be temporarily modified under emergency drought circumstances. The Commission shall, in adopting polices that affect the appropriation and control of water resources, design those policies to best protect and promote the general public welfare.                                                                                                            [top] 

(3) The Water Resources Commission is required by ORS 536.300(2) to develop a state program for managing Oregon's water. The Commission has established the Oregon Water Management Program which consists of statewide policies (OAR Chapter 690, Divisions 400 and 410), basin programs (OAR Chapter 690, Divisions 500 to 520) and non-rule program direction for implementing statewide policies and basin level actions (ORS 536.430). 

(4) In formulating the Oregon Water Management Program, the Commission shall consider declarations of policy provided in ORS 536.310. These declarations mandate the consideration of existing rights, economic development, human consumptive needs, multiple uses, groundwater quality, protection of wildlife, recreation, watershed management, and other priorities outlined by the Legislature. These rules, and those contained in Division 410, are adopted as statements for inclusion in the integrated, coordinated state water resources policy required under ORS 536.300. 

(5) The programs and plans of the Commission are to reflect all laws that relate to or affect the use and control of the water resources of the state (ORS 536.330). The Legislature, in ORS 536.360, directs every state agency and public corporation to conform to statements of state water resources policy as adopted by the Water Resources Commission. 

Stat. Auth.: ORS 536

Stats. Implemented: ORS 536

Hist.: WRD 8-1990, f. & cert. ef. 6-25-90                                                                           [top]

                                                                                                                                                               .

690-400-0010  Definitions                                                                                                            [top] 

As used in the rules contained in Divisions 400 and 410, unless the context requires otherwise: 

(1) "Allocate" means to determine allowable new uses by classifying waters through basin program rules, withdrawing waters, reserving water for future economic development by order, or issuing water rights for waters of the state. 

(2) "Artificial Groundwater Recharge" means the intentional addition of water to a groundwater reservoir by diversion from another source (OAR 690-011-0010(2)). 

(3) "Beneficial Use" means an instream public use or a use of water for the benefit of an appropriator for a purpose consistent with the laws and the economic and general welfare of the people of the state and includes, but is not limited to, domestic, fish life, industrial, irrigation, mining, municipal, pollution abatement, power development, recreation, stockwater and wildlife uses. 

(4) "Capacity of the Resource" means the ability of a surface water or groundwater resource to sustain a balance of public and private uses without causing over-appropriation or otherwise significantly impairing the function or character of the resource. 

(5) "Conservation" means eliminating waste or otherwise improving efficiency in the use of water while satisfying beneficial uses by modifying the technology or method for diverting, transporting, applying or recovering the water, by changing management of water use, or by implementing other measures. 

(6) "Customary Quantity" means the rate or annual amount of appropriation or diversion of water ordinarily used by an appropriator within the terms of that appropriator's water right (OAR 690-008-0001(3)). 

(7) "Emergencies" means situations, including but not limited to wildfire, flooding, and toxic spills, which pose an immediate and significant threat to life, health, property, or water or riparian resources. 

(8) "Management Activity" means an activity in a riparian area which is planned and undertaken to extract, manipulate, or control natural resources or natural processes. Management activities include but are not limited to timber harvest, reforestation, road construction or reconstruction, spraying of herbicides or pesticides, grazing, mining, or cultivation. 

(9) "Mitigation" means the reduction of adverse effects of a proposed project or activity by considering, in the following order: 

(a) Avoiding the impact altogether by not taking a certain action or parts of an action; 

(b) Minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation; 

(c) Rectifying the impact by repairing, rehabilitating or restoring the affected environments; 

(d) Reducing or eliminating the impact over time by preservation and maintenance operations during the life of the action by monitoring and taking appropriate corrective measures; and 

(e) Compensating for the impact by replacing or providing conditions of comparable substitute value. 

(10) "Non-Structural" refers to processes that primarily utilize the natural watershed or natural aquifer storage, rather than structural means. 

(11)(a) "Over-Appropriated" means a condition of water allocation in which: 

(A) The quantity of surface water available during a specified period is not sufficient to meet the expected demands from all water rights at least 80 percent of the time during that period; or 

(B) The appropriation of groundwater resources by all water rights exceeds the average annual recharge to a groundwater source over the period of record or results in the further depletion of already over-appropriated surface waters. 

(b) The standards for determining over-appropriation described in paragraph (A) of this subsection shall apply to water availability determination for permit applications submitted after July 17, 1992. 

(12) "Public Interest", as a standard for reviewing new uses of water, means a beneficial use which is consistent with state law and includes providing the greatest good for the people of the state based on current values, protecting water rights and conserving water resources for present and future generations. 

(13) "Public Use" means an instream use of water that is available to the public at large. It includes but is not limited to: 

(a) Recreation;                                                                                                                           [top] 

(b) Protection and enhancement of fish life, wildlife, fish and wildlife habitat and any other ecological values; 

(c) Pollution abatement; 

(d) Navigation; 

(e) Scenic attraction; and 

(f) Any other similar or related use. 

(14) "Riparian Area" means the zone of transition from an aquatic ecosystem to a terrestrial ecosystem, dependent upon surface or subsurface water, that reveals through the zone's existing or potential soil-vegetation complex, the influence of such surface or subsurface water. A riparian area may be located adjacent to a lake, reservoir, estuary, pothole, bog, wet meadow, muskeg, or ephemeral, intermittent or perennial stream. 

(15) "Storage" means the retention or impoundment of surface or groundwater by natural and/or artificial means for public or private uses and benefits. 

(16) "Waste" means the continued use of more water than is needed to satisfy the specific beneficial uses for which a right was granted. The need for water shall be based on using the technology and management practices that provide for the efficient use of water considering: 

(a) The economic feasibility of use of the technology and management practices by the water user; 

(b) The environmental impacts of making modifications; 

(c) The available proven technology; 

(d) The time needed to make modifications; 

(e) Local variations in soil type and weather; and 

(f) Relevant water management plans and subbasin conservation plans. 

(17) "Watershed" means the entire land area drained by a stream or system of connected streams such that all stream flow originating in the area is discharged through a single outlet.

Stat. Auth.: ORS 536.025, ORS 536.220 & ORS 536.300 - ORS 536.340

Stats. Implemented: ORS 536.025, ORS 536.220 & ORS 536.300 - ORS 536.340

Hist.: WRD 22-1990, f. & cert. ef. 12-14-90; WRD 10-1992, f. & cert. ef. 7-31-92; WRD 3-1993, f. & cert. ef. 7-27-93                                                                                                                     [top]        

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Point of Diversion Defined 

Water Resources Department                                             

Chapter 690                                                                                                                               [top] 

690-380-0100 

Definitions 

The definitions in this rule, along with the definitions in OAR 690-008-0001 and 690-300-0010, apply to the rules in OAR chapter 690, division 380. Where a term is defined in more than one rule, the definition in this rule applies. 

(7) “Point of diversion” means the place at which surface water is diverted from a surface water source as specified in the water right. It may be the head of a ditch, a pump suction line, the center line of a dam, or other point at which control is taken of surface water.

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690-085-0008                                                                                                                         [top]           

Definitions 

As used in OAR 690-085-0010 and 690-085-0015: 

(11) "Point of diversion" means the point at which water is appropriated from its source.

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Definition of a Public Water System   EPA                                                                        [top] 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing guidance to the primacy agencies and EPA's regional offices for their implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act's (SDWA) 1996 Amendments to the definition of a public water system (PWS) in Section 1401(4). This guidance was developed with information from States, water suppliers, and citizens groups.

• Defintion of a Public Water System(PWS)in SDWA Section 1401(4)as Amended by the 1996 SDWA Amendments, August 5, 1998 Federal Register notice.
  *Correction: The guidance for the definition of a Public Water System published in the Federal Register on August 5, 1998 (FR Doc. 98-20904) contained an incorrect citation of the SDWA in one of the footnotes.
  **In the Federal Register issue of August 5, 1998, in FR Doc. 98-20904, on page 41941, in the first column, in footnote 3, correct the last sentence to read: See SDWA Section 1401(5).

• Response to comments of the Definition of a PWS in SDWA Section 1401(4)as Amended by the 1996 SDWA Amendments.
•  
• Federal Register Notice of the Definition of a PWS in SDWA Section 1401 (4) as Amended by the 1996 SDWA Amendments; Notice, received May 8, 1998 on draft guidance.
•  
• Guidance on Public Water System Definition                                                      [top] 

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New Definition: A public water system (PWS) is a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such system has at least fifteen service connections or regularly serves at least twenty-five individuals.                                                                                                                          [top] 

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Changes to the PWS Definition by the 1996 Amendments
	Definition Changes
Constructed Conveyances	Expands the means of delivering water to include not only systems which provide water for human consumption through pipes, but also systems which provide water for human consumption through "other constructed conveyances."
Regulation	"Constructed conveyance" suppliers newly subject to the PWS Date definition will be regulated as of August 6, 1998.
Exclusions	Provides three means by which "constructed conveyance" water systems may be excluded from this definition and two means by which certain piped irrigation districts may be excluded from this definition.

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Guidance on Implementing the New PWS Defintion
	Guidance                                                      [top]
Definitions	Human Consumption. Defined to include drinking, bathing, showering, cooking, dishwashing, and maintaining oral hygiene. Constructed Conveyance. Broadly interpreted to refer to any manmade conduit such as ditches, culverts, waterways, flumes, mine drains, or canals.
Determining Constructed Conveyances	Natural Waterways. Factors that a primacy agency should consider to determine whether or not a natural waterway is considered a "constructed conveyance" include whether or not it exists in its current configuration substantially from human modifications, who owns or controls the water, and the reason why water is present. Counting. Whether a "constructed conveyance" counts as a connection depends on whether the water supplier knows or should know that the connection exists or that the individuals are using the water from that connection for human consumption.                     [top]
Water Suppliers' Liability	A supplier cannot limit its SDWA liability by not making efforts to gather necessary information and documentation regarding its users' water use, or solely by requiring its users to sign a waiver agreement.
Constructed Conveyance Exclusions	Other Than Residential Use Exclusion. A "constructed conveyance" system may automatically exclude a connection from being counted if its use is exclusively for purposes other than residential uses. Alternative Water Exclusion. A "constructed conveyance" system may exclude a connection from being counted if the primacy agency makes a factual determination based on documentation submitted by the water supplier that the water supplier is providing its users at that connection with alternative water that provides the equivalent level of public health protection as the applicable NPDWRs. Treatment Exclusion. A "constructed conveyance" system may exclude a connection from being counted if the primacy agency makes a factual determination based on documentation submitted by the water supplier that the water at the connection is treated to provide the equivalent level of public health protection as the applicable NPDWRs.
Piped Irrigation Exclusion	If in existence prior to May 18, 1994, and providing primarily agricultural service with only incidental residential use, a piped irrigation district may not be considered a PWS if all of its connections comply with the alternative water or treatment exclusions (above) for "constructed conveyance" suppliers.

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Copies of the final guidance may also be obtained by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.  For further information, contact Jon Merkle, Drinking Water Office - (WTR-6), EPA Region 9, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, California, 94105.

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Unconfined - A condition in which the upper surface of the zone of saturation forms a water table under atmospheric pressure (after ASCE, 1985).

Unconfined aquifer - An aquifer which has a water table.

 September 26. 2012

For water resources information please visit our Oregon Water Science Center Home Page or Oregon Water Science Center Hydrologic Studies Page.

The definitions found in this glossary are from, "The Federal Glossary of Selected Terms: Subsurface-Water Flow and Solute Transport": Department of Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Water Data Coordination, August 1989. References for the definitions can be found at the end of the document.

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Water footprint_Glossary

Ambient water quality standards – The maximum allowable amount of a substance in rivers, lakes or groundwater, given as a concentration. Ambient water quality standards can also refer to other properties of the water, such as temperature or pH. Standards are set to protect against anticipated adverse effects on human health or welfare, wildlife or the functioning of ecosystems. 

Blue water – Fresh surface and groundwater, i.e. the water in freshwater lakes, rivers and aquifers. 

Blue water availability – Runoff (through groundwater and rivers) minus environmental flow requirements. Blue water availability typically varies within the year and from year to year as well. 

Blue water footprint – Volume of surface and groundwater consumed as a result of the production of a good or service. Consumption refers to the volume of freshwater used and then evaporated or incorporated into a product. It also includes water abstracted from surface or groundwater in a catchment and returned to another catchment or the sea. It is the amount of water abstracted from ground- or surface water that does not return to the catchment from which it was withdrawn. 

Blue water scarcity – The ratio of blue water footprint to blue water availability. Blue water scarcity varies within the year and from year to year. 

Business water footprint – See ‘water footprint of a business’. 

Corporate water footprint – See ‘water footprint of a business’. 

Critical load – The load of pollutants that will fully consume the assimilation capacity of the receiving water body. 

Crop water requirement – The total water needed for evapotranspiration, from planting to harvest for a given crop in a specific climate regime, when adequate soil water is maintained by rainfall and/or irrigation so that it does not limit plant growth and crop yield.                         [top] 

Crop yield – Weight of harvested crop per unit of harvested area. 

Direct water footprint – The direct water footprint of a consumer or producer (or a group of consumers or producers) refers to the freshwater consumption and pollution that is associated to the water use by the consumer or producer. It is distinct from the indirect water footprint, which refers to the water consumption and pollution that can be associated with the production of the goods and services consumed by the consumer or the inputs used by the producer. 

Economic water productivity – Economic value of the products produced per unit of water consumption or pollution. See also ‘water productivity’. 

Effective precipitation – The portion of the total precipitation that is retained by the soil so that it is available for crop production. 

End-use water footprint of a product – When consumers use a product, there can be a water footprint in the end-use stage. Think about the water pollution that results from the use of soaps in the household. In this case one can speak about the end-use water footprint of a product. This footprint is strictly spoken not part of the product water footprint, but part of the consumer’s water footprint. 

Environmental flow requirements – The quantity, quality and timing of water flows required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and the human livelihoods and well-being that depend on these ecosystems. 

Evapotranspiration – Evaporation from the soil and soil surface where crops are grown, including the transpiration of water that actually passes crops. 

External water footprint of national consumption – The part of the water footprint of national consumption that falls outside the nation considered. It refers to the appropriation of water resources in other nations for the production of goods and services that are imported into and consumed within the nation considered 

Global water saving through trade - International trade can save freshwater globally if a water-intensive commodity is traded from an area where it is produced with high water productivity (small water footprint) to an area with lower water productivity (large water footprint). 

Green water – The precipitation on land that does not run off or recharge the groundwater but is stored in the soil or temporarily stays on top of the soil or vegetation. Eventually, this part of precipitation evaporates or transpires through plants. Green water can be made productive for crop growth (but not all green water can be taken up by crops, because there will always be evaporation from the soil and because not all periods of the year or areas are suitable for crop growth).                                                                                                                                           [top] 

Green water availability – The evapotranspiration of rainwater from land minus evapotranspiration from land reserved for natural vegetation and minus evapotranspiration from land that cannot be made productive. 

Green water footprint – Volume of rainwater consumed during the production process. This is particularly relevant for agricultural and forestry products (products based on crops or wood), where it refers to the total rainwater evapotranspiration (from fields and plantations) plus the water incorporated into the harvested crop or wood. 

Green water scarcity – The ratio of green water footprint to green water availability. Green water scarcity varies within the year and from year to year. 

Grey water footprint – The grey water footprint of a product is an indicator of freshwater pollution that can be associated with the production of a product over its full supply chain. It is defined as the volume of freshwater that is required to assimilate the load of pollutants based on existing ambient water quality standards. It is calculated as the volume of water that is required to dilute pollutants to such an extent that the quality of the water remains above agreed water quality standards. 

Hotspot identification – The process of identifying ‘water footprint hotspots’ in space and time based on two criteria: (1) the water footprint of a product, consumer or producer is significant in this area and period of the year, and (2) problems of water scarcity and pollution occur in this area in this period of the year. The hotspots are associated with particular components in the total water footprint of the product, consumer or producer. Hotspots deserve most attention when formulating response measures. 

Indirect water footprint – The indirect water footprint of a consumer or producer refers to the freshwater consumption and pollution ‘behind’ products being consumed or produced. It is equal to the sum of the water footprints of all products consumed by the consumer or of all (non-water) inputs used by the producer. 

Internal water footprint of national consumption – The part of the water footprint of national consumption that falls inside the nation, i.e. the appropriation of domestic water resources for producing goods and services that are consumed domestically.                                               [top] 

Irrigation requirement - The quantity of water exclusive of precipitation, i.e. quantity of irrigation water, required for normal crop production. It includes soil evaporation and some unavoidable losses under the given conditions. It is usually expressed in water-depth units (millimetres) and may be stated in monthly, seasonal or annual terms, or for a crop period. 

National water footprint – Is the same as what is more accurately called the ‘water footprint of national consumption’, which is defined as the total amount of fresh water that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of the nation. Part of this water footprint lies outside the territory of the nation. The term should not be confused with the ‘water footprint within a nation’, which refers to the total freshwater volume consumed or polluted within the territory of the nation. 

National water saving through trade - A nation can preserve its domestic freshwater resources by importing a water-intensive product instead of producing it domestically. 

Operational water footprint of a business – The operational (or direct) water footprint of a business is the volume of freshwater consumed or polluted due to its own operations. 

Overhead water footprint – The water footprint of a product consists of two elements: the use of freshwater that can immediately be related to the product and the use of freshwater in overhead activities. The latter element is called the ‘overhead water footprint’. The overhead water footprint refers to freshwater use that in first instance cannot be fully associated with the production of the specific product considered, but refers to freshwater use that associates with supporting activities and materials used in the business, which produces not just this specific product but other products as well. The overhead water footprint of a business has to be distributed over the various business products, which is done based on the relative value per product. The overhead water footprint includes for example the freshwater use in the toilets and kitchen of a factory and the freshwater use behind the concrete and steel used in the factory and machineries. 

Production system – A production system of a product consists of all the sequential process steps applied to produce the product. A production system can be a linear chain of processes, it can take the shape of a product tree (many inputs ultimately resulting in one output product) or it may rather look like a complex network of interlinked processes that eventually lead one or more products. 

Return flow – The part of the water withdrawn for an agricultural, industrial or domestic purpose that returns to the ground- or surface water in the same catchment as where it was abstracted. This water can potentially be withdrawn and used again.                                                           [top] 

Supply-chain water footprint of a business – The supply-chain (or indirect) water footprint of a business is the volume of freshwater consumed or polluted to produce all the goods and services that form the input of production of a business. 

Virtual-water balance – The virtual-water balance of a geographically delineated area (e.g. a nation or catchment area) over a certain time period is defined as the net import of virtual water over this period, which is equal to the gross import of virtual water minus the gross export. A positive virtual-water balance implies net inflow of virtual water to the nation from other nations. A negative balance means net outflow of virtual water. 

Virtual-water content – The virtual-water content of a product is the freshwater “embodied” in the product, not in real sense, but in virtual sense. It refers to the volume of water consumed or polluted for producing the product, measured over its full production chain. If a nation exports/imports such a product, it exports/imports water in virtual form. The ‘virtual-water content of a product’ is the same as ‘the water footprint of a product’, but the former refers to the water volume embodied in the product alone, while the latter term refers to that volume, but also to which sort of water is being used and to when and where that water is being used. The water footprint of a product is thus a multi-dimensional indicator, whereas virtual-water content refers to a volume alone. 

Virtual-water export – The virtual-water export from a geographically delineated area (e.g. a nation or catchment area) is the volume of virtual water associated with the export of goods or services from the area. It is the total volume of freshwater consumed or polluted to produce the products for export. 

Virtual-water flow – The virtual-water flow between two geographically delineated areas (e.g. two nations) is the volume of virtual water that is being transferred from the one to the another area as a result of product trade. 

Virtual-water import – The virtual-water import into a geographically delineated area (e.g. a nation or catchment area) is the volume of virtual water associated with the import of goods or services into the area. It is the total volume of freshwater used (in the export areas) to produce the products. Viewed from the perspective of the importing area, this water can be seen as an additional source of water that comes on top of the available water resources within the area itself.                                                                                                                                               [top] 

Water abstraction – See ‘water withdrawal’. 

Water consumption – The volume of freshwater used and then evaporated or incorporated into a product. It also includes water abstracted from surface or groundwater in a catchment and returned to another catchment or the sea. 

Water footprint – The water footprint is an indicator of freshwater use that looks at both direct and indirect water use of a consumer or producer. The water footprint of an individual, community or business is defined as the total volume of freshwater that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the individual or community or produced by the business. Water use is measured in terms of water volumes consumed (evaporated) and/or polluted per unit of time. A water footprint can be calculated for a particular product, for any well-defined group of consumers (e.g. an individual, family, village, city, province, state or nation) or producers (e.g. a public organization, private enterprise or economic sector). The water footprint is a geographically explicit indicator, not only showing volumes of water use and pollution, but also the locations. 

Water footprint accounting – The step in water footprint assessment that refers to collecting factual, empirical data on water footprints with a scope and depth as defined earlier. 

Water footprint assessment – Quantifying a water footprint, assessing its impacts and formulating a response. The assessment includes four phases: setting goals and scope; water footprint accounting; water footprint sustainability assessment; and water footprint response formulation. 

Water footprint of a business – The water footprint of a business – which can also be called alternatively corporate or organizational water footprint – is defined as the total volume of freshwater that is used directly and indirectly to run and support a business. The water footprint of a business consists of two components: the direct water use by the producer (for producing/manufacturing or for supporting activities) and the indirect water use (the water use in the producer’s supply chain). The 'water footprint of a business' is the same as the total 'water footprint of the business output products'.                                                                                   [top] 

Water footprint of a consumer – Is defined as the total volume of freshwater consumed and polluted for the production of the goods and services consumed by the consumer. It is calculated by adding the direct water use by people and their indirect water use. The latter can be found by multiplying all goods and services consumed by their respective water footprint. 

Water footprint of national consumption – Is defined as the total amount of fresh water that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of the nation. The water footprint of national consumption can be assessed in two ways. The bottom-up approach is to consider the sum of all products consumed multiplied with their respective product water footprint. In the top-down approach, the water footprint of national consumption is calculated as the total use of domestic water resources plus the gross virtual-water import minus the gross virtual-water export. 

Water footprint of national production – Another term for the ‘water footprint within a nation’. 

Water footprint of a product – The water footprint of a product (a commodity, good or service) is the total volume of freshwater used to produce the product, summed over the various steps of the production chain. The water footprint of a product refers not only to the total volume of water used; it also refers to where and when the water is used. 

Water footprint sustainability assessment – Assessing the sustainability of a water footprint from an environmental, social and economic perspective, at local, river basin as well as global level. 

Water footprint within a geographically delineated area – Is defined as the total freshwater consumption and pollution within the boundaries of the area. The area can be for example a hydrological unit like a catchment area or a river basin or an administrative unit like a municipality, province, state or nation.                                                                                            [top] 

Water footprint within a nation – Is defined as the total freshwater volume consumed or polluted within the territory of the nation. 

Water neutral – A process, product, consumer, community or business is water neutral when (1) its water footprint has been avoided and reduced where possible, particularly in places with a high degree of water scarcity or pollution, and (2) when the negative environmental, social and economic externalities of the remaining water footprint have been offset (compensated). In some particular cases, when interference with the water cycle can be completely avoided – e.g. by full water recycling and zero waste – ‘water neutral’ means that the water footprint is nullified; in other cases, like in the case of crop growth, the water footprint cannot be nullified. Therefore ‘water neutral’ does not necessarily mean that the water footprint is brought down to zero, but that it is reduced as much as possible and that the negative economic, social and environmental externalities of the remaining water footprint are fully compensated. 

Water offsetting – Offsetting the negative impacts of a water footprint is part of water neutrality. Offsetting is a last step, after a prior effort of avoiding and reducing a water footprint and its impacts. Compensation can be done by contributing to (e.g. by investing in) a more sustainable and equitable use of water in the hydrological units in which the impacts of the remaining water footprint are located. 

Water pollution level – Degree of pollution of the runoff flow, measured as the fraction of the pollution assimilation capacity of runoff actually consumed. A water pollution level of hundred percent means that the pollution assimilation capacity of the runoff flow has been fully consumed. 

Water productivity – Product units produced per unit of water consumption or pollution. Water productivity (product units/m3) is the inverse of the water footprint (m3/product unit). Blue water productivity refers to the product units obtained per m3 of blue water consumed. Green water productivity refers to the product units obtained per m3 of green water consumed. Grey water productivity refers to the product units obtained per m3 of grey water produced. The term ‘water productivity’ is a similar term as the terms labour productivity or land productivity, but now production is divided over the water input. When water productivity is measured in monetary output instead of physical output per unit of water, one can speak about ‘economic water productivity’. 

Water scarcity – See ‘blue water scarcity’ and ‘green water scarcity’.                                    [top] 

Water self-sufficiency vs. water dependency of a nation - The ‘water self-sufficiency’ of a nation is defined as the ratio of the internal to the total water footprint of national consumption. It denotes the degree to which the nation supplies the water needed for the production of the domestic demand for goods and services. Self-sufficiency is 100% if all the water needed is available and indeed taken from within the own territory. Water self-sufficiency approaches zero if the demand for goods and services in a nation is largely met with virtual-water imports. Nations with import of virtual water depend, de facto, on the water resources available in other parts of the world. The ‘virtual-water import dependency’ of a nation is defined as the ratio of the external to the total water footprint of national consumption. 

Water withdrawal – The volume of freshwater abstraction from surface or groundwater. Part of the freshwater withdrawal will evaporate, another part will return to the catchment where it was withdrawn and yet another part may return to another catchment or the sea.

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Water System Definition                                                                                                  [top]  

WATER SYSTEMS 

448.115 Definitions for ORS 448.115 to 448.285. As used in ORS 448.115 to 448.285, 454.235 and 454.255 unless the context requires otherwise: 

      (1) “Connection” means the connection between a water system and a customer that enables the customer to receive potable water from the system. 

      (13) “Water system” means a system for the provision of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances.

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6/22/10 

National Handbook of Recommended Methods for Water Data Acquisition     [top]

11.M. GLOSSARY

Acre-foot [unit] (acre-ft): The volume of water required to cover 1 acre of land (43,560 square feet) to a depth of 1 foot. 

Advance time [irrigation]: Time required for a given stream of irrigation water to move from the upper end of a field to the lower end of the field. 

Afterbay [power]: A lake or water impoundment downstream from a powerplant that receives the water after it has passed through the hydroelectric turbines. 

Agriculture water use [water-use category]: Composed of livestock, animal specialty, and irrigation water use. 

Animal specialties water use [water-use category]: Water use associated with the production of fish in captivity (aquaculture water use), except fish hatcheries (commercial water use), and other commercially raised animals such as horses, but excluding livestock. Activities included in SIC code 027. See also livestock water use and aquaculture water use. 

Application efficiency [irrigation]: The ratio of the average depth of irrigation water infiltrated and stored in the root zone to the average depth of irrigation water applied, expressed as a percent. 

Application rate [irrigation]: Rate at which water is applied to a given area. Usually expressed in units of depth per time. 

Aquaculture water use [water-use category]: Water used for farming of organisms that live in water, such as fish, excluding fish hatcheries (commercial water use), shrimp, and other shellfish. Activities included in SIC code 0273. Subset of animal specialties water use.                      [top] 

Aquifer [hydrology]: (1) A geologic formation, group of formations, or part of a formation that contains sufficient saturated permeable material to yield significant quantities of water to wells and springs (USGS); (2) A geologic formation, group of formations, or part of a formation having structures that permit appreciable water to move through them under ordinary field conditions (ASCE). 

Aquifer depletion [management]: Condition of declining water levels within the aquifer's structure because natural recharging from surface water and precipitation is inadequate to maintain normal level. Can be caused by withdrawal rates exceeding recharge rates. 

Beneficial use[management]: Any of a number of water uses that are recognized by a political entity as valuable to society and worthy of protection, are defined by statutes, and may need to be protected against quality or quantity degradation. These water uses include, but are not necessarily limited to, domestic, municipal, agricultural, and industrial supply; cooling in thermoelectric power generation; and instream uses that include hydroelectric power generation; recreation; aesthetic enjoyment; navigation; and preservation and enhancement of fish, wildlife, and other aquatic resources or preserves. 

Blowdown [power]: The continuous or intermittent discharge, or purging, of a small amount of circulating water to maintain an acceptable concentration of dissolved solids in the water. 

Cesspool [wastewater]: An underground catch basin for liquid waste, such as household waste. Also called a septic tank. 

Cistern [water supply]: A reservoir, tank, or vessel for storing or holding water or other liquid. 

Clearwell [water supply]: A reservoir for the storage of filtered water of sufficient capacity to prevent the need to vary the filtration rate with variations in demand. Also used to provide chlorine-contact time for disinfection. 

Commercial water use [water-use category]: Water used for motels, restaurants, office buildings, ski resorts, water parks, and other commercial facilities and institutions. Also includes fish hatcheries. The water may be obtained from a public water supply or may be self supplied. See also fish hatchery and institutional water use. 

Conjunctive water use [management]: A practice whereby two or more independent sources of water are used in combination or alternately, for meeting one or more objectives, such as, improved reliability of supply, long-term cost effectiveness, and environmental protection. 

Crop requirement [irrigation]: The volume of water required by the crop to maintain optimum growth.                                                                                                                                       [top]

Consumptive use [general]: (1) That part of withdrawn water that is evaporated, transpired, incorporated into products or crops, consumed by humans or livestock, or otherwise removed from the immediate water environment (USGS). (2) Water whose state, chemical, or biological characteristics are altered sufficiently to render it useless to further beneficial uses (BOR). Also referred to as water consumption or water consumed. 

Consumptive use [irrigation]: The total amount of water taken up by vegetation for transpiration or building of plant tissue, plus the unavoidable evaporation of soil moisture, snow, and intercepted precipitation associated with vegetal growth (ASAE). 

Conveyance [general]: The systematic and intentional flow or transfer of water from one point to another. Conveyance types include water instream conveyance, water distribution, and wastewater collection. 

Conveyance loss [general]: Water that is lost in transit from a pipe, canal, conduit, or ditch by leakage or evaporation. If the water is lost due to leakage, it may be considered return flow if it percolates to an aquifer and is available for reuse. If the water evaporates, it is considered consumptive use. 

Cooling pond [power]: A cooling pond is a shallow reservoir having a large surface area to allow heat to be removed from water. 

Cooling tower [power]: A structure designed to remove as much heat from water as possible per unit of space occupied by the structure.                                                                                    [top] 

Cooling water [power, industry]: Water used for cooling purposes, such as of condensers and nuclear reactors. 

Data collection [method]: Implementation of appropriate procedures for obtaining necessary information to monitor status of water quantity, quality, use or flow. 

Data compilation [method]: Procedures used to develop necessary information products about water, including but not limited to, quality assurance, statistical analysis, mathematical manipulations, integration of data from several sources, and formatting for archiving. 

Deep percolation [irrigation]: Water that moves downward through the soil profile below the root zone and cannot be used by plants. 

Delivery [general]: The amount of water delivered to a point of use. 

Desalination [water treatment]: Refers to the removal of salts from water. Desalination is primarily used to produce public-supply water that meets drinking-water standards. The primary types of desalination are (1) distillation, (2) electrodialysis, and (3) reverse osmosis. Additionally, many public water suppliers also dilute or blend saltwater with fresher water to produce potable water. Also see "Reverse osmosis." 

Dewatering [hydrology]: (1) The draining, pumping, or removal of water that is affecting construction or mining site, or to lower the water table for agriculture. (2) The removal of water from a substance (sewage or waste screenings, for example). 

Discharge: [Hydraulics] Measurement of the output from a water source such as a well, spring, pump, stream, or a storm or flood event. An area designed to receive the output flow from pumps or structures without erosion/cavitation. 

Discharge point [wastewater]: A location at which effluent is released after use into a receiving stream or infiltration bed. Also referred to as an outfall. 

Distribution conveyance [water supply]: The process of conveying water from a water supplier's points of withdrawal or treatment through the distribution system to the user or another water supplier. Water is "released" from the public water supplier into the distribution system and "delivered" to users. See also delivery and release. 

Distribution uniformity [irrigation]: Measure of the uniformity of irrigation water distribution over a field.         

Diversion [general]: Point of withdrawal from surface water.                                                 [top]

Domestic water use [water-use category]: Water for household purposes, such as drinking, food preparation, bathing, washing clothes and dishes, flushing toilets, and watering lawns and gardens. Households include single and multi-family dwellings. Also called residential water use. The water may be obtained from a public water supply or may be self supplied. 

Drainfield [wastewater disposal]: A network of buried piping or tubing where the liquid is discharged to the ground through the drain field. Most commonly used with septic tanks, but some are used for domestic or industrial wastewater disposal after treatment. 

Drip [process]: Procedure that regulates an altering substance into a stream of water; for example, chlorination for drinking water, or the addition of fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides into irrigation water. 

End use [management]: Main, ultimate, or intended use for water as a result of certain process, delivery, or treatment. 

Effective precipitation [irrigation]: That portion of total precipitation that becomes available for plant growth. 

Effluent [wastewater]: Refers to the water that flows out of a wastewater treatment facility or other works used for the purpose of treating, stabilizing, or holding waste. 

Evaporation [hydrology]: Process by which water is changed from a liquid into a vapor. See also evapotranspiration and transpiration.                                                                                          [top] 

Evapotranspiration [hydrology]: (1) A collective term that includes water discharged to the atmosphere, as a result of evaporation from the soil and surface-water bodies and, as a result of plant transpiration (USGS). (2) The combination of water transpired from vegetation and evaporated from the soil and plant surfaces (ASAE). See also evaporation and transpiration. 

Exfiltration [general]: Leakage from a conveyance system or storage area into the surrounding and underlying materials. This process will occur if the ambient ground-water pressure is less than the internal pressure of the conveyance system or storage area at a breach. 

Fish hatchery water use [water-use category]: Water used for raising fish for later release. Activities included in SIC code 0921. Subset of commercial water use 

Forebay [power]: A lake or water impoundment (reservoir) at the end of a diversion canal or conduit and before the entrance to the powerplant. 

Freshwater [hydrology]: Water that contains less than 1,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of dissolved solids. Water that contains more than 500 mg/L of dissolved solids may be undesirable for drinking and many industrial uses. Water that contains more than 1,000 mg/L is sometimes used for irrigation. 

Gross head [power]: The difference between the upstream water surface (forebay elevation) and the downstream water surface (afterbay elevation) after the water has passed through the hydroelectric plant. 

Ground water [hydrology]: Generally all subsurface water as distinct from surface water; specifically, that part of the subsurface water in the saturated zone (a zone in which all voids are filled with water). 

Ground-water disposal [wastewater]: Refers to wastewater that is disposed of through the ground either by seepage or injection. This includes the following discharge methods, injection well, drain fields, percolation ponds, and spray fields (land application/spreading). Reuse systems and land disposal systems are considered a ground-water disposal method, such as the wastewater used to irrigate turf or crops is generally intended to filter through the soil. 

Hydroelectric power water use [water-use category]: Water used in generating electricity at plants where the turbine generators are driven by falling water. Activities included in Standard Industrial Classification code 4911. 

Hydroelectric plant capacity [power]: Maximum power generation that can be produced under normal head and full-flow conditions.                                                                                [top]

Hydroelectric turbine [power]: A machine, usually with vanes, blades, or buckets, that rotate about an axis driven by water. The mechanical energy produced can be used directly, or it can be converted to electrical power by linking the turbine's torque to an electrical generator. 

Incidental use [management]: Beneficial uses made of water that were or are not the intended purpose. 

Industrial wastewater-treatment facility [wastewater]: A facility that processes water following its industrial use to restore a specific level of quality to meet further beneficial uses or for release into wastewater-collection systems. 

Industrial water use [water-use category]: Water used for industrial purposes, such as fabrication, processing, washing, in-plant conveyance, and cooling, and includes such industries as steel, chemicals, paper, and petroleum refining. The water may be obtained from a public water supply or may be self supplied. 

Injection well [hydrology]: Refers to a well constructed for the purpose of disposing treated wastewater directly into the ground. Wastewater is generally forced (pumped) into the well for dispersal into a designated aquifer. Injection wells are generally drilled into nonpotable aquifers, unused aquifers, or below freshwater (potable water) levels. 

Infiltration [general]: Water that infiltrates into a low-pressure or unpressurized conveyance system, such as a wastewater-collection system. This process will occur if the ambient ground-water pressure exceeds the internal pressure of the conveyance system at a breach. 

Infiltration [irrigation]: The downward entry of water through the soil surface into the soil (ASAE). See also seepage. 

Instream use [general]: Water that is used, but not withdrawn, from a surface-water source, or a ground-water source, for hydroelectric-power generation, navigation, water-quality improvement or waste assimilation, fish propagation, wildlife preservation, recreation, and ecosystem maintenance, which includes freshwater circulation to the estuaries and maintenance of riparian vegetation and floodplain wetlands. Also referred to as nonwithdrawal use or inchannel use. 

Instream conveyance [general]: Flow of water from one water body to another without using the water.                                                                                                                                        [top] 

Intake [water supply]: (1) Point of diversion of stream flow into a conduit or irrigation system conveyance. (2) Water infiltration into the soil. 

Interbasin transfer [general]: Conveyance of water across a drainage or river basin divide. Also called transbasin diversion. 

Irrigable area [irrigation]: Area capable of being irrigated, principally as regards to availability of water, suitable soils, and topography of land. 

Irrigated land [irrigation]: Land that has had water applied to sustain plants during the year of inventory or during two (2) or more years out of the last four (4) years (SCS NRI). 

Irrigation District [irrigation]: In the United States, a cooperative, self-governing public corporation set up as a subdivision of the State government, with definite geographic boundaries, organized and having taxing power to obtain and distribute water for irrigation of lands within the district; created under the authority of a State legislature with the consent of a designated fraction of the landowners or citizens. 

Irrigation efficiency [irrigation]: The ratio of the average depth of irrigation water that is beneficially used to the average depth of irrigation water applied, expressed as a percent. Beneficial uses include satisfying the soil water deficit and any leaching requirement to remove salts from the root zone. 

Irrigation requirement [irrigation]: For planning purposes, the total amount of water required at the field to produce the crop--less natural sources of water such as precipitation or subsurface water.                                                                                                                                        [top]

Irrigation return flow [irrigation]: The part of water diverted for irrigation that migrates to a surface-water body or aquifer. Irrigation return flow is particularly important for flood irrigation as return flows become the source for next downslope application area. 

Irrigation supply [water-use category]: Water withdrawn by public and private water suppliers, which is delivered to users primarily for irrigation. Subcategory of water supply. Activities included under Standard Industrial Classification code 4971. 

Irrigation system [irrigation]: Practices and equipment used in providing and distributing water to the land/crop being irrigated. Main systems and some associated terms are listed (technological advances are ongoing to reduce cost and improve efficiencies: 

      Alternate set irrigation: A method of managing irrigation whereby, at every other irrigation, alternate furrows are irrigated, or sprinklers are placed midway between their locations during the previous irrigation (ASAE). 

      Alternate side irrigation: The practice of furrow irrigating one side of a crop row (for row crops or orchards) and then, at about half the irrigation time, irrigating the other side (ASAE). 

      Basin irrigation: The flooding of an area of level land surrounded by dikes. Used interchangeable with level border irrigation, but usually refers to smaller areas (ASAE). 

      Border dike: Earth ridge or small levee built to guide or to hold irrigation or recharge water in a field (ASAE). 

      Border ditch: Small excavation used as a border of an irrigated strip or plot with water being spread from one or both sides (ASAE).                                                                                      [top]     

      Border irrigation: The flooding of strips of land, rectangular in shape and cross leveled, bordered by dikes. Water is applied at a rate sufficient to move it down the strip in a uniform sheet. Border strips having no downfield slope are referred to as level order systems. Border systems constructed on terraced land are commonly referred to as benched borders (ASAE). 

      Check irrigation: Modification of a border strip with small earth ridges or checks constructed at intervals to retain water as the water flows down the strip (ASAE). 

      Continuous-flow irrigation: System of irrigation water delivery where each irrigator receives the allotted quantity of water continuously (ASAE). 

      Cutback irrigation: The reduction of the furrow or border inflow stream after water has advanced partially or completely through the field in order to reduce runoff. 

      Demand irrigation system: Irrigation water delivery procedure where each irrigator may request water in the amount needed and at the time desired (ASAE). 

      Drip irrigation: A method of microirrigation wherein water is applied to the soil surface as drops or small streams through emitters. Discharge rates are generally less than 8 Liters/hour (2 gal/hour) for single-outlet emitters and 12 Liters/hour (3 gal/hour) per meter for line-source emitters ASAE.) 

      Effluent irrigation: Land application of wastewater for irrigation and beneficial use of nutrients (ASAE). 

      Emitter types: Small microirrigation dispensing devices designed to dissipate pressure and discharge a small uniform flow or trickle of water at a constant discharge, which does not vary significantly because of minor differences in pressure head. Also called "dripper" or "trickler" (ASAE).

            Compensating emitter: Designed to discharge water at a constant rate of a wide range of later line pressures (ASAE). 

            Continuous flushing emitter: Designed to continuously permit passage of large solid particles while operating at a trickle or drip flow thus reducing filter fineness requirements (ASAE).                                                                                                                                      [top]

            Flushing emitter: Designed to have a flushing flow of water to clear the discharge opening every time the system is turned on (ASAE). 

            Line-source emitter: Water is discharged from closely spaced perforations, emitters, or a porous wall along the tubing (ASAE). 

            Long path emitter: Employs a long capillary-sized tube or channel to dissipate pressure (ASAE). 

            Multi-outlet emitter: Supplies water to 2 or more points through small diameter auxiliary tubing (ASAE). 

            Orifice emitter: Employs a series of orifices to dissipate pressure (ASAE). 

            Vortex emitter: Employs a vortex effect to dissipate pressure (ASAE). 

      Flood irrigation: Method of irrigation where water is applied to the soil surface without flow controls, such as furrows, borders, or corrugations (ASAE). 

      Full irrigation: Management of water application to fully replace the soil water deficiency over an entire field (ASAW). 

      Furrow: Small channel in the soil surface for conveying irrigation water (ASAE). 

      Furrow irrigation: Method of surface irrigation where the water is supplied to small ditches or furrows for guiding across the field (ASAE). 

      Gated pipe irrigation: Portable pipe with small gates installed along one side for distributing water to corrugations or furrows (ASAE). 

      Irrigation stream: Flow for irrigation of a particular tract of land. Flow or water distributed at a single irrigation. Sometimes called "irrigating head" (ASAE).                                              [top] 

      Irrigation check: Small dike or dam used in the furrow alongside an irrigation border to make the water spread evenly across the border (ASAE). 

      Irrigation interval: The average time interval between the commencement of successive irrigations for a given field. Sometimes called "irrigation frequency" (ASAE). 

      Irrigation set: The area irrigated at one time within a field (ASAE). 

      Limited irrigation: Management of irrigation applications to apply less than enough water to satisfy the soil water deficiency in the entire root zone. Sometimes called "deficit" or "stress" irrigation (ASAE). 

      Microirrigation: The frequent application of small quantities of water as drops, tiny streams, or miniature spray through emitters or applicators placed along a water delivery line. Microirrigation encompasses a number of methods or concepts such a s bubbler, drip, trickle, mist, or spray (ASAE). 

      Mist irrigation: A method of microirrigation in which water is applied in very small droplets (ASAE). 

      Overhead irrigation: (See Sprinkler Irrigation). 

      Porous trickle tubing: (Microirrigation) Tubing with a uniformly porous wall. The pores are small and ooze water under pressure (ASAE). 

      Portable pipe: Irrigation system which is or can be moved between irrigation sets, such as sprinkler or gated pipe (ASAE). 

      Preplant irrigation: Irrigation applied prior to seeding. Sometimes called "preirrigation" ASAE). 

      Spray irrigation: The application of water by a small spray or mist to the soil surface, where travel through the air becomes instrumental in the distribution of water (ASAE). 

      Sprinkler irrigation: Method of irrigation in which the water is sprayed, or sprinkled, through the air to the ground surface (ASAE). 

      Sprinkler irrigation systems (ASAE):                                                                                     [top]

            Boom: An elevated, cantilevered sprinkler(s) mounted on a central stand. The sprinkler boom rotates about a central pivot. 

            Center pivot: An automated irrigation system consisting of a sprinkler line rotating about a pivot point at one end and supported by a number of self propelled towers. The water is supplied at the pivot point and flows outward through the line supplying the individual outlets. 

            Corner pivot: An additional span or other equipment attached to the outer end of a center pivot irrigation system that allows the overall radius to increase or decrease in relation to the field boundaries. 

            Lateral move: An automated irrigation machine consisting of a sprinkler line supported by a number of self-propelled towers. The entire unit moves in a generally straight path and irrigates a basically rectangular area. Sometimes called a "linear move". 

            Permanent: Underground piping with risers and sprinklers. 

            Portable (hand move): Sprinkler system which is moved by uncoupling and relocating the pipes manually, requiring no special tools. 

            Side-move sprinkler: A sprinkler system with the supply pipe supported on carriages and towing small diameter tailing pipelines, each fitted with several sprinkler heads.

            Side-roll sprinkler: The supply pipe is usually mounted on wheels with the pipe as the axle and where the system is moved across the field by rotating the pipelines by engine power. 

            Solid set: System which covers the complete field with pipes and sprinklers in such a manner that all the field can be irrigated without moving any of the system.                            [top] 

            Towed sprinkler: System where lateral lines are mounted on wheels, sleds, or skids, and are pulled or towed in a direction approximately parallel to the lateral. 

      Stress irrigation: Management of irrigation water to apply less than enough water to satisfy the soil water deficiency in the entire root zone. (preferred term is "Limited" irrigation.) (ASAE). 

      Subirrigation: Application of irrigation water below the ground surface by raising the water table to within or near the root zone (ASAE).

      Subsurface drip irrigation: Application of water below the soil surface through emitters, with discharge rates generally in the same ranges as drip irrigation. This method of application is different from and not to be confused with subirrigation, where the root zone is irrigated by water table control (ASAE). 

      Surface irrigation: Broad class of irrigation methods in which water is distributed over the soil surface by gravity flow (ASAE). 

       Surge irrigation: A surface irrigation technique wherein flow is applied to furrows (or less commonly, borders) intermittently during a single irrigation set (ASAE). 

       Trickle irrigation: A method of microirrigation wherein water is applied to the soil surface as drops or small streams through emitters. (preferred term is "Drip" irrigation) (ASAE). 

        Water spreading: A specialized form of surface irrigation accomplished by diverting flood runoff from natural channels or water courses and spreading the flow over relatively level areas (ASAE).                                                                                                                                       [top]     

Irrigation water use [water-use category]: The artificial application of water on lands to assist in the growth of crops or pasture. May also be used in greenhouses. Irrigation water use may also include application of water to maintain vegetative growth in recreational lands such as parks and golf courses. Also includes water used for frost and freeze protection of crops. 

Land application [wastewater]: Means the reuse of reclaimed water or the use or disposal of effluents or wastewater residuals on, above, or into the surface of the ground through spray fields, land spreading, or other methods. 

Livestock water use [water-use category]: Water used for livestock watering, feed lots, dairy operations, and other on-farm needs. Livestock as used here includes cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, and poultry, but excludes horses (animal specialties water use). Activities included in SIC codes 021-025. 

Low pressure/low volume irrigation, Micro or Tickle [irrigation]: Irrigation systems that apply water directly on or near the soil surface, either in discrete drops, small streams, mist, or sprays. They include drip, spray, jet, and bubbler application. 

Major user [management]: A user who withdraws, distributes, or uses water, or collects or returns wastewater at a rate averaging more than 10,000 gallons per day 0.010 million gallons per day (Mgal/d). 

Makeup water [power]: The water added to a closed system to replace the circulating water lost by evaporation, drift, blowdown, and leakage. 

Megawatt-hour [unit] (MWh): A unit of energy, equivalent to one million watt-hours. 

Measuring point [general]: Specific point where data is collected. It is usually marked and has some specific criteria that assure consistent data collection 

Million gallons per day [unit] (Mgal/d): A rate of flow of water. 

Mining water use [water-use category]: Water used for the extraction of naturally occurring minerals including coal, ores, petroleum, and natural gas. Includes water associated with quarrying, dewatering, milling, and other on site activities done as part of mining. Excludes water used for processing, such as smelting and refining, or slurry pipeline (industrial water use). Activities included in SIC codes 10-14.                                                                                       [top] 

Non-recoverable ground water [irrigation]: Water lost through deep percolation that is not available for further use. 

Outfall [wastewater]: Refers to the outlet or structure through which effluent is finally discharged to. 

Offstream use [general]: Water withdrawn or diverted from a ground- or surface-water source for use. 

Per capita water use [management]: The average volume of water used per person (or other unit) during a standard time period, generally per day. (Other units may include various types of livestock, hospital beds, etc.). 

Point of diversion [water supply]: The location at which water is diverted or withdrawn from a source. 

Percolation pond [wastewater]: Refers to a pond (usually man-made) designed to allow wastewater to percolate slowly into the ground. The pond acts as a holding facility while gravity allows the water to percolate or seep through the soil or other unconsolidated medium into the local water table and lower aquifers. 

Potable water [water supply]: Water suitable for drinking or cooking, from both health and aesthetics considerations. Potable water is considered safe for human consumption and is often referred to as drinking water. 

Precipitation [hydrology]: The liquid equivalent (depth) of rainfall, snow, sleet, or hail. The data that is used is more correctly referred to as "Observed Precipitation" and in all cases is somewhat less than actual due to the imperfectness of measuring devices. 

Preirrigation [irrigation]: Application of water to cropland before planting to assure adequate crop germination and early plant growth.                                                                                          [top]

Price elasticity [management]: A dimensionless measure of the relation between a percent change in water use and a percent change in price when other factors affecting water demand remain unchanged. The same concept may be applied to express responsiveness of water use to changes in other variables. 

Public supply [water-use category]: Water withdrawn by public and private water suppliers and delivered to users or groups of users. Public water suppliers provide water for a variety of uses, such as domestic, commercial, industrial, thermoelectric power, and public water use. USEPA definition specifies 15 connections or 25 people. Activities included under SIC code 4941. 

Public-supply delivery [public water supply]: Water delivered to a user or group of users through a public-supply distribution system. 

Public use [public water supply]: Water supplied from a public water supply and used for firefighting, street washing, and municipal parks and swimming pools. 

Public use, losses, and transfers [water supply]: Water from a public water supply that has not been accounted for as being distributed to domestic, commercial, industrial, or thermoelectric uses. Includes public water use (firefighting, street washing, and use at municipal parks and swimming pools), system flushing, leakage, meter-errors, and may also include transfer of water between public water suppliers. 

Pumped storage [power]: Storage in an afterbay that is pumped back to the forebay above the powerplant at a time when customer demand for energy is low, such as at night. Pumped storage is a method of keeping water in reserve for use during peak period power demands. In some cases, the forebay may be located offstream. 

Raw water [water supply]: Untreated water. 

Recharge [hydrology]: Process by which water is added to the zone of saturation to replenish an aquifer. 

Reclaimed wastewater [general]: Public or industrial treatment-plant effluent that has been diverted or intercepted for use before it reaches a natural waterway or aquifer. 

Recycled water [general]: Water that is used more than one time before it passes back into the natural hydrologic system, generally by the same user, or for similar purposes.                [top] 

Release [general]: Water discharged by a user or group of users into a wastewater-collection system. 

Reservoir [hydrology]: A pond, lake, tank, basin, or other space, either natural in its origin, or created in whole or in part by the building of engineering structures, which is used for storage, regulation, and control of water (ASCE). 

Reservoir evaporation [hydrology]: The amount of water lost to the atmosphere through direct evaporation and sublimation losses during below freezing temperatures. 

Residential water use [water-use category]: See domestic water use. 

Resident population [management]: The number of persons who live in a State who consider it their primary place of residence. College students, military personnel, and inmates of penal institutions are counted as residents. Tourists and seasonal or part-time residents are considered nonresident population. 

Return flow [general]: Water that is returned to surface or ground water, after use or wastewater treatment, and thus becomes available for reuse. Return flow can go directly to surface water, directly to ground water through an injection well or infiltration bed, or indirectly to ground water through septic systems. (2) That proportion of the water diverted from a stream that returns to the stream channel either as surface or underground flow (U.S. Department of Agriculture). 

Reuse [general]: Use of water that has undergone wastewater treatment and is delivered to a user as reclaimed wastewater.                                                                                                 [top]

Reverse osmosis [water treatment]: Refers to the process of removing salts from water using a membrane. With reverse osmosis, the product water passes through a fine membrane that the salts are unable to pass through. This differs from electrodialysis, where the salts are extracted from the feedwater by using membrane charged with an electrical current to separate the ions. The positive ions go through one membrane, and the negative ions flow through another membrane, leaving the feedwater less mineralized. 

Riparian [hydrology]: Pertaining to the banks of a body of water, a riparian owner is one who own the banks. A riparian water right is the right to use and control water by virtue of ownership of the banks (ASAE). 

Rural water use [water-use category]: Replaced by the more specific terms of domestic (self supply) and livestock water use. 

Safe yield [management]: Amount of ground water that can be withdrawn from an aquifer without degrading quality or reducing pumping level (ASAE). 

Saline water [hydrology]: Water that contains more than 1,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L) dissolved solids. 

Salinity [hydrology]: The concentration of dissolved solids or salt in water. 

Seepage [hydrology]: (1) Water escaping through or emerging from the ground along an extensive line or surface as contrasted with a spring where the water emerges from a localized spot. (2) The slow movement (percolation) of water by gravity water through the soil. 

Self-supplied water [general]: Water withdrawn from a ground- or surface-water source by a user and not obtained from a public water supply. 

Septic tank [wastewater]: Refers to a buried tank for the separation in the absence of oxygen of solids, grease, and liquid components of wastewater. The liquid fraction from the septic tank is discharged to a drain field for disposal. 

Service area [management]: (franchise area) A customer, group of customers, entity of group of activities which are served with water through a single delivery and or measuring/metering device from a main distribution system. 

Spring [hydrology]: A surface where, without the agency of man, water issues from rock or soil onto the land or into a body of water, the place of issuance being relatively restricted in size. Springs are classified in accordance with many criteria, including character of the water, geologic formation, geographical location, and continuity of flow (ASCE).                          [top] 

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code [industry]: Four-digit codes established by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (Executive Office of the President, Statistical Policy Division) 1987 or more current edition, and used in the classification of establishments by type of activity in which they are engaged. 

Steam venting [power]: Release of steam into the atmosphere from a thermoelectric power generating plant. Usually occurs during shut down of a plant. 

Stream [hydrology]: A body of flowing water. The term is usually applied to a body of water flowing in a natural surface channel, but is also applied to a body of water flowing in a well-defined open or closed conduit, a jet of water issuing from any opening such as a fissure in rock, a nozzle, or as a current in a still body of water such as a lake or a sea (ASCE). 

Surface water [hydrology]: Water flowing or stored on the earth's surface (ASAE), such as a stream or a lake. 

Surface water disposal [wastewater]: Refers to wastewater that is disposed of directly into a surface water body or wetland. This does not include water discharged into ponds for holding or percolation purposes.                                                                                     [top]

Tailwater [hydrology/irrigation]: Water, in a stream or canal, immediately downstream from a structure. Excess irrigation water which reaches the lower end of a field (ASAE).

Thermoelectric power water use [water-use category]: Water used in the process of the generation of electric power from fossil fuel (coal, oil, or natural gas), geothermal, biomass, solid waste, or nuclear energy. Cogeneration plants, which simultaneously generate electrical energy and low-grade heat from the same fuel, are also included. The water may be obtained from a public water supply or may be self supplied. Activities are included in SIC code 4911 along with hydropower. 

Transbasin diversion [hydrology]: See Interbasin transfer. 

Transpiration [hydrology]: Process by which water from plants or animals is evaporated into the atmosphere, through a porous membrane. See also evaporation and evapotranspiration. 

Unaccounted for water [water supply]: Water supplied from a public water supply that has not been account for as being distributed to domestic commercial, industrial, or thermoelectric uses. It includes public water use (firefighting, street washing, and municipal parks and swimming pools), leakage (conveyance loss), and meter-errors. 

Wastewater [general]: Water that carries wastes from homes, businesses, and industries; a mixture of water and dissolved or suspended solids.                                                                    [top] 

Wastewater-collection conveyance [general]: The process of conveying wastewater from users through a wastewater-collection system (sewer system) to a wastewater-treatment facility. May also include storm runoff. Wastewater is released by the user into the collection system and received by the treatment facility. Wastewater can also be released from a local collection system into a regional collection system. 

Wastewater treatment [general]: The processing of wastewater for the removal or reduction of contained solids or other undesirable constituents. 

Wastewater-treatment return flow [general]: Water returned to the hydrologic system by wastewater-treatment facilities. Also referred to as effluent water. 

Water demand [management]: 1. Relation between water use and price, when all other factors are held constant. Demand is relation of increased prices results in decreased water use. (Boland) 2. Demand is a general concept used by economists to denote the willingness of consumers or users to purchase goods, services, or inputs to production processes, since the willingness varies with the price of the thing being purchased. (Kindler). 3. Refers to the schedule of quantities that consumers would use per unit of time at a particular price per unit of water used. 

Water disposal system [wastewater]: The complete system for removing excess water from land with minimum erosion. For sloping land, it may include a terrace system, terrace outlet channels, dams, and grassed waterways. For level land, it may include only surface drains or both surface and subsurface drains. 

Water impoundment [hydrology]: A body of water created or stored by impoundment structures, such as dams, dikes, and levees. 

Water requirement [management]: Water needed for a particular purpose, such as irrigation, power generation, public water supply, plant transpiration, or storage, that no matter what the price, the same quantity of water is purchased. generally independent of price.                   [top] 

Water supply [general]: All of the processes that are involved in obtaining water for the user before use. Includes withdrawal, water treatment, and distribution. 

Water table [hydrology]: The upper surface of the saturated zone below the soil surface where the water is at atmospheric pressure (ASAE). 

Water transfer [general]: Artificial conveyance of water from one area to another. 

Water treatment [general]: The processes that withdrawn water may undergo prior to use, including chlorinations, fluoridation, and filtration.                                                           [top]

Water use [general]: (1) In a restrictive sense, the term refers to water that is actually used for a specific purpose, such as for domestic use, irrigation, or industrial processing. (2) More broadly, water use pertains to human's interaction with and influence on the hydrologic cycle, and includes elements such as water withdrawal, distribution, consumptive use, wastewater collection, and return flow. 

Water-resources region [management]: Designated natural drainage basin or hydrologic area that contains either the drainage area of a major river or the combined drainage areas of two or more rivers; of 21 regions, 18 are in the conterminous United States, and one each are in Alaska, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. 

Water-resources subregion [management]: The 21 designated water-resources regions of the United States are subdivided into 222 subregions. Each subregion includes that area drained by a river system, a reach of a river and its tributaries in that reach, a closed basin(s), or a group of streams forming a coastal drainage system. 

Watt-hour [power] (Wh): An electrical energy unit of measure equal to one watt of power supplied to, or taken from, an electrical circuit steadily for one hour. 

Wellhead [hydrology]: The above-ground part of a well. 

Withdrawal [general]: The removal of surface water or ground water from the natural hydrologic system for use, including public-water supply, industry, commercial, domestic, irrigation, livestock, thermoelectric power generation, water uses.                                                          [top]  

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North American Lake Management Society  Glossary Search

PO Box 5443

Madison, WI 53705-0443

Phone (608) 233-2836

Fax (608) 233-3186

info@nalms.org                                                                                                                        [top]          

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Watershed Mgt. Glossary, Alberta

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Water Words Dictionary   Nevada Division of Water Resources     -

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

A Compilation of Technical Water, Water Quality,

Environmental, and Water-Related Terms

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Water Words   S     T     U    W        

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                                                                                                                                                [top] 

DUNES CITY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN   -

Revised 9/16/97,  Page 62 

“The coast highway usually referred to as Hwy 101 was started in the 1920’s as a defense road but remained a clay wagon road until the 1930’s. Woahink Outlet at this time flowed through the lilly pond on the west side of Hwy 101 and then turned back east into Siltcoos Lake . The outlet was diverted into a channel east of the highway to save building two bridges. In 1936 the bridges over the Siltcoos River and the Siuslaw completed the Highway 101 route to Florence and brought all the benefits of the automobile into the community.

In 1931 a group of residents convinced the County Commissioners to build a road from the defense road (Hwy 101) to the Westlake bridge. Electric lines were strung and large areas of timber felled. A CCC Camp was built on the south end of Woahink Lake in the early 1930’s which became an Army camp for three years during WWII. The library and two officers’ quarters served as rentals in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Residents often combed the old dumps searching for vintage bottles and memorabilia.” -

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ODOT installed the outlet control structure that sits on an easement (from Ford on land that now belongs to Anderson) with the intent of maintaining a constant lake level, and ODOT holds a Water Right Certificate for use of Woahink lake water for park purposes. (ODOT operated the state parks prior to creation of the park service.)

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Dunes City Council Minutes 6/6/07 Workshop                                                                                                                      [top]

            --- 4.            WEIR

                        Councilor Navetta asked if Dick Anderson had signed a quitclaim deed conveying Weir property to the City.  Mayor Meyer replied that he did not know the answer to the question.  A male member of the audience reported that he had talked with Dr. Anderson and that he had claimed he had never received any documents to sign to complete the arrangement.

                        Councilor Navetta reported that she had learned from the daughter of Dr. Anderson that he had lost the paperwork.

                        Councilor Scott said it was his recollection that Dr. Anderson had received the quitclaim document from the State and that the City was responsible for providing a survey of the property to complete the process.  Mr. Burke said the survey and official agreements by the property owner were required by the Planning Commission to complete the transfer process.  He said he was unable to estimate how long it would take to finalize the matter, but that he would consult with the City Attorney to begin the process.  He sought and seemed to gain approval to do what was needed to complete the transfer.

                        Councilor Petersdorf asked where funds for the survey and other expenses involved were budgeted.  Councilor Scott replied that the Water Quality Committee had included a line item in its budget to cover Weir expenses.

                        A male member of the audience said the survey would likely be more expensive than was anticipated. ---

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Dunes City Council Minutes 7/12/07                                                                                     [top] 

---5. UNSCHEDULED ITEMS

Mayor Meyer invited suggestions for amending the Minutes of the June 14, 2007, meeting. 

Mr. Burke requested that the Minutes be changed to add reference to Council authorization of the Planning Commission to finalize arrangements related to the "weir water rights situation." Mayor Meyer determined there was no objection to the request and asked staff to research the matter and add to the record, as needed.

Councilor Howison moved, seconded by Councilor Petersdorf, to accept the Minutes of the June 14, 2007, meeting, as amended. The motion was adopted unanimously, 5:0.

K. Planning Commission (Continued)

Mr. Burke reported on his efforts on behalf of the Planning Commission to complete the transfer of the weir  property and water rights to the City. He explained that slow progress was being made.

NOTE: The topic is not mentioned in the June 14 Council Minutes [was previous to October 2012] posted on Dunes City's website. [please see WLA's archives here] ---

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