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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>353960</law_id><section_number>21-225</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="58" identifier="21">Drainage, Soil Conservation, Sanitation and Public Facilities Districts</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="4" identifier="4">Sanitation Districts Law of 1946 -- Nontidal Waters</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Wherever used or referred to in this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">district</span>&#x201D; means a sanitation <span class="dictionary">district</span> created and existing pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Territory which may be embraced in district" href="/21-228/">21-228</a> to <a class="law" title="Governing bodies may adopt resolutions" href="/21-236/">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; <a id="paragraph-1318393" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The term &#x201C;commission,&#x201D; except where the context requires reference to the board or commission mentioned and provided for in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Officers of commission" href="/21-238/">21-238</a>, means the body corporate or politic comprising a <span class="dictionary">district</span> and its inhabitants created and existing pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Creation" href="/21-237/">21-237</a>; <a id="paragraph-1318394" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">chairman</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">chairman</span> of a commission; <a id="paragraph-1318395" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">sewage disposal system</span>&#x201D; or &#x201C;facilities,&#x201D; 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; <a id="paragraph-1318396" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">waters of the district</span>&#x201D; means all well defined rivers, creeks or other watercourses or streams within the district, provided they are not &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">tidal waters of the district</span>&#x201D; as that term is defined in the sanitation <span class="dictionary">districts</span> <span class="dictionary">law</span> of 1938; <a id="paragraph-1318397" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">industrial wastes</span>&#x201D; means liquid or other wastes resulting from any processes of industry, manufacture, trade or business or from the development of any natural resource; <a id="paragraph-1318398" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> The term &#x201C;sewage&#x201D; 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 <span class="dictionary">industrial wastes</span> as may be present; <a id="paragraph-1318399" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">pollution</span>&#x201D; means the condition of water resulting from any of the following acts: <a id="paragraph-1318400" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8a" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">a.</span> Unreasonably contaminating such water; <a id="paragraph-1318401" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#8a"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8b" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">b.</span> Rendering such water unclean or impure; <a id="paragraph-1318402" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#8b"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8c" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">c.</span> Rendering such water directly or indirectly injurious to public health, or unfit for public use; <a id="paragraph-1318403" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#8c"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8d" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">d.</span> Rendering such water harmful for cattle, stock or other animals; <a id="paragraph-1318404" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#8d"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8e" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">e.</span> Rendering such water unfit for commercial use; <a id="paragraph-1318405" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#8e"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="9"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">construct</span>&#x201D; includes <span class="dictionary">construct</span>, reconstruct, replace, improve and repair; <a id="paragraph-1318406" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="10"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">person</span>&#x201D; includes an individual, partnership, association, or corporation; <a id="paragraph-1318407" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="11"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">governing body</span>&#x201D; shall mean the board of supervisors, board of <span class="dictionary">county</span> commissioners, council or other local legislative body, board, commission, or other legislative authority having charge of the finances of any <span class="dictionary">county</span>, city or <span class="dictionary">town</span>; <a id="paragraph-1318408" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="12"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">town</span>&#x201D; means an incorporated <span class="dictionary">town</span>; <a id="paragraph-1318409" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="13"><p><span class="prefix-number">13.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">county</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">county</span> exclusive of that portion thereof lying within the boundaries of an incorporated <span class="dictionary">town</span>. <a id="paragraph-1318410" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/21-225/#13"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1946, p. 347; Michie Suppl. 1946, &#xA7; 1560iii2.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
