{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/21-225.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/21-225.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/21-225.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/21-225.html"}],"law_id":353960,"edition_id":2,"section_id":353960,"structure_id":50671,"section_number":"21-225","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1946, p. 347; Michie Suppl. 1946, \u00a7 1560iii2.","full_text":"Wherever used or referred to in this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:\n\n1\n\nThe term “district” means a sanitation district created and existing pursuant to §§ 21-228 to 21-236 or heretofore or hereafter created by a special act of the General Assembly for the purpose of taking advantage of the provisions of this chapter;\n\n2\n\nThe term “commission,” except where the context requires reference to the board or commission mentioned and provided for in § 21-238, means the body corporate or politic comprising a district and its inhabitants created and existing pursuant to § 21-237;\n\n3\n\nThe term “chairman” means the chairman of a commission;\n\n4\n\nThe term “sewage disposal system” or “facilities,” used in relation to a commission, means the sewers, conduits, pipelines, pumping and ventilating stations, treatment plants and works, and other plants, structures, boats, conveyances and other real and personal property operated by the commission for the purposes of the commission;\n\n5\n\nThe term “waters of the district” means all well defined rivers, creeks or other watercourses or streams within the district, provided they are not “tidal waters of the district” as that term is defined in the sanitation districts law of 1938;\n\n6\n\nThe term “industrial wastes” means liquid or other wastes resulting from any processes of industry, manufacture, trade or business or from the development of any natural resource;\n\n7\n\nThe term “sewage” means the water-carried wastes created in and carried, or to be carried, away from residences, hotels, schools, hospitals, industrial establishments, commercial establishments or any other private or public building, together with such surface or ground water and industrial wastes as may be present;\n\n8\n\nThe term “pollution” means the condition of water resulting from any of the following acts:\n\na\n\nUnreasonably contaminating such water;\n\nb\n\nRendering such water unclean or impure;\n\nc\n\nRendering such water directly or indirectly injurious to public health, or unfit for public use;\n\nd\n\nRendering such water harmful for cattle, stock or other animals;\n\ne\n\nRendering such water unfit for commercial use;\n\n9\n\nThe term “construct” includes construct, reconstruct, replace, improve and repair;\n\n10\n\nThe term “person” includes an individual, partnership, association, or corporation;\n\n11\n\nThe term “governing body” shall mean the board of supervisors, board of county commissioners, council or other local legislative body, board, commission, or other legislative authority having charge of the finances of any county, city or town;\n\n12\n\nThe term “town” means an incorporated town;\n\n13\n\nThe term “county” means a county exclusive of that portion thereof lying within the boundaries of an incorporated town.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1318392,"text":"Wherever used or referred to in this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":1318393,"text":"The term “district” means a sanitation district created and existing pursuant to §§ 21-228 to 21-236 or heretofore or hereafter created by a special act of the General Assembly for the purpose of taking advantage of the provisions of this chapter;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":1318394,"text":"The term “commission,” except where the context requires reference to the board or commission mentioned and provided for in § 21-238, means the body corporate or politic comprising a district and its inhabitants created and existing pursuant to § 21-237;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":1318395,"text":"The term “chairman” means the chairman of a commission;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":1318396,"text":"The term “sewage disposal system” or “facilities,” used in relation to a commission, means the sewers, conduits, pipelines, pumping and ventilating stations, treatment plants and works, and other plants, structures, boats, conveyances and other real and personal property operated by the commission for the purposes of the commission;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":1318397,"text":"The term “waters of the district” means all well defined rivers, creeks or other watercourses or streams within the district, provided they are not “tidal waters of the district” as that term is defined in the sanitation districts law of 1938;","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":1318398,"text":"The term “industrial wastes” means liquid or other wastes resulting from any processes of industry, manufacture, trade or business or from the development of any natural resource;","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":1318399,"text":"The term “sewage” means the water-carried wastes created in and carried, or to be carried, away from residences, hotels, schools, hospitals, industrial establishments, commercial establishments or any other private or public building, together with such surface or ground water and industrial wastes as may be present;","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"8":{"id":1318400,"text":"The term “pollution” means the condition of water resulting from any of the following acts:","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7","next_prefix":"8a"},"9":{"id":1318401,"text":"Unreasonably contaminating such water;","type":"section","prefixes":["8","a"],"prefix":"a","entire_prefix":"8a","prefix_anchor":"8a","level":2,"prior_prefix":"8","next_prefix":"8b"},"10":{"id":1318402,"text":"Rendering such water unclean or impure;","type":"section","prefixes":["8","b"],"prefix":"b","entire_prefix":"8b","prefix_anchor":"8b","level":2,"prior_prefix":"8a","next_prefix":"8c"},"11":{"id":1318403,"text":"Rendering such water directly or indirectly injurious to public health, or unfit for public use;","type":"section","prefixes":["8","c"],"prefix":"c","entire_prefix":"8c","prefix_anchor":"8c","level":2,"prior_prefix":"8b","next_prefix":"8d"},"12":{"id":1318404,"text":"Rendering such water harmful for cattle, stock or other animals;","type":"section","prefixes":["8","d"],"prefix":"d","entire_prefix":"8d","prefix_anchor":"8d","level":2,"prior_prefix":"8c","next_prefix":"8e"},"13":{"id":1318405,"text":"Rendering such water unfit for commercial use;","type":"section","prefixes":["8","e"],"prefix":"e","entire_prefix":"8e","prefix_anchor":"8e","level":2,"prior_prefix":"8d","next_prefix":"9"},"14":{"id":1318406,"text":"The term “construct” includes construct, reconstruct, replace, improve and repair;","type":"section","prefixes":["9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"9","prefix_anchor":"9","level":1,"prior_prefix":"8e","next_prefix":"10"},"15":{"id":1318407,"text":"The term “person” includes an individual, partnership, association, or corporation;","type":"section","prefixes":["10"],"prefix":"10","entire_prefix":"10","prefix_anchor":"10","level":1,"prior_prefix":"9","next_prefix":"11"},"16":{"id":1318408,"text":"The term “governing body” shall mean the board of supervisors, board of county commissioners, council or other local legislative body, board, commission, or other legislative authority having charge of the finances of any county, city or town;","type":"section","prefixes":["11"],"prefix":"11","entire_prefix":"11","prefix_anchor":"11","level":1,"prior_prefix":"10","next_prefix":"12"},"17":{"id":1318409,"text":"The term “town” means an incorporated town;","type":"section","prefixes":["12"],"prefix":"12","entire_prefix":"12","prefix_anchor":"12","level":1,"prior_prefix":"11","next_prefix":"13"},"18":{"id":1318410,"text":"The term “county” means a county exclusive of that portion thereof lying within the boundaries of an incorporated town.","type":"section","prefixes":["13"],"prefix":"13","entire_prefix":"13","prefix_anchor":"13","level":1,"prior_prefix":"12"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50671,"edition_id":2,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":50670,"metadata":{"child_laws":4,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:31:06","date_modified":"2026-08-02 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commission","order_by":null,"url":"\/21-238\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1407075,"object_type":"law","relational_id":353960,"identifier":"21-225","token":"21\/4\/1\/21-225","url":"\/21-225\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/21-225\/","token":"21\/4\/1\/21-225","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 21-225","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Wherever used or referred to in this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The term “district<\/span>” means a sanitation district<\/span> created and existing pursuant to §§ 21-228<\/a> to 21-236<\/a> or heretofore or hereafter created by a special act of the General Assembly for the purpose of taking advantage of the provisions of this chapter; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The term “commission,” except where the context requires reference to the board or commission mentioned and provided for in § 21-238<\/a>, means the body corporate or politic comprising a district<\/span> and its inhabitants created and existing pursuant to § 21-237<\/a>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The term “chairman<\/span>” means the chairman<\/span> of a commission; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The term “sewage disposal system<\/span>” or “facilities,” used in relation to a commission, means the sewers, conduits, pipelines, pumping and ventilating stations, treatment plants and works, and other plants, structures, boats, conveyances and other real and personal property operated by the commission for the purposes of the commission; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> The term “waters of the district<\/span>” means all well defined rivers, creeks or other watercourses or streams within the district, provided they are not “tidal waters of the district<\/span>” as that term is defined in the sanitation districts<\/span> law<\/span> of 1938; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> The term “industrial wastes<\/span>” means liquid or other wastes resulting from any processes of industry, manufacture, trade or business or from the development of any natural resource; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> The term “sewage” means the water-carried wastes created in and carried, or to be carried, away from residences, hotels, schools, hospitals, industrial establishments, commercial establishments or any other private or public building, together with such surface or ground water and industrial wastes<\/span> as may be present; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> The term “pollution<\/span>” means the condition of water resulting from any of the following acts: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

a.<\/span> Unreasonably contaminating such water; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

b.<\/span> Rendering such water unclean or impure; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

c.<\/span> Rendering such water directly or indirectly injurious to public health, or unfit for public use; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

d.<\/span> Rendering such water harmful for cattle, stock or other animals; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

e.<\/span> Rendering such water unfit for commercial use; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> The term “construct<\/span>” includes construct<\/span>, reconstruct, replace, improve and repair; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

10.<\/span> The term “person<\/span>” includes an individual, partnership, association, or corporation; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

11.<\/span> The term “governing body<\/span>” shall mean the board of supervisors, board of county<\/span> commissioners, council or other local legislative body, board, commission, or other legislative authority having charge of the finances of any county<\/span>, city or town<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

12.<\/span> The term “town<\/span>” means an incorporated town<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

13.<\/span> The term “county<\/span>” means a county<\/span> exclusive of that portion thereof lying within the boundaries of an incorporated town<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 21-225)\n\nWherever used or referred to in this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly\nappears from the context:\n\n1. The term “district” means a sanitation district created and\nexisting pursuant to §§ 21-228 to 21-236 or heretofore or hereafter\ncreated by a special act of the General Assembly for the purpose of taking\nadvantage of the provisions of this chapter;\n\n2. The term “commission,” except where the context requires\nreference to the board or commission mentioned and provided for in §\n21-238, means the body corporate or politic comprising a district and its\ninhabitants created and existing pursuant to § 21-237;\n\n3. The term “chairman” means the chairman of a commission;\n\n4. The term “sewage disposal system” or “facilities,”\nused in relation to a commission, means the sewers, conduits, pipelines, pumping\nand ventilating stations, treatment plants and works, and other plants,\nstructures, boats, conveyances and other real and personal property operated by\nthe commission for the purposes of the commission;\n\n5. The term “waters of the district” means all well defined rivers,\ncreeks or other watercourses or streams within the district, provided they are\nnot “tidal waters of the district” as that term is defined in the\nsanitation districts law of 1938;\n\n6. The term “industrial wastes” means liquid or other wastes\nresulting from any processes of industry, manufacture, trade or business or from\nthe development of any natural resource;\n\n7. The term “sewage” means the water-carried wastes created in and\ncarried, or to be carried, away from residences, hotels, schools, hospitals,\nindustrial establishments, commercial establishments or any other private or\npublic building, together with such surface or ground water and industrial\nwastes as may be present;\n\n8. The term “pollution” means the condition of water resulting from\nany of the following acts:\n\n a. Unreasonably contaminating such water;\n\n b. Rendering such water unclean or impure;\n\n c. Rendering such water directly or indirectly injurious to public health, or\n unfit for public use;\n\n d. Rendering such water harmful for cattle, stock or other animals;\n\n e. Rendering such water unfit for commercial use;\n\n9. The term “construct” includes construct, reconstruct, replace,\nimprove and repair;\n\n10. The term “person” includes an individual, partnership,\nassociation, or corporation;\n\n11. The term “governing body” shall mean the board of supervisors,\nboard of county commissioners, council or other local legislative body, board,\ncommission, or other legislative authority having charge of the finances of any\ncounty, city or town;\n\n12. The term “town” means an incorporated town;\n\n13. The term “county” means a county exclusive of that portion\nthereof lying within the boundaries of an incorporated town.\n\nHISTORY: 1946, p. 347; Michie Suppl. 1946, \u00a7 1560iii2.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}