{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-5101.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-5101.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-5101.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-5101.html"}],"law_id":68932,"edition_id":1,"section_id":68932,"structure_id":13434,"section_number":"15.2-5101","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-764.2; 1950, p. 1312; 1952, c. 430; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-1240; 1970, c. 617; 1979, c. 280; 1982, c. 469; 1997, cc. 527, 573, 587; 2006, c. 219; 2009, cc. 402, 473; 2022, c. 356.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t&#8220;Authority&#8221; means an authority created under the provisions of \u00a7 15.2-5102 or Article 6 (\u00a7 15.2-5152 et seq.) of this chapter or, if any such authority has been abolished, the entity succeeding to the principal functions thereof.\n\t\t&#8220;Bonds&#8221; and &#8220;revenue bonds&#8221; include notes, bonds, bond anticipation notes, and other obligations of an authority for the payment of money.\n\t\t&#8220;Cost,&#8221; as applied to a system, includes the purchase price of the system or the cost of acquiring all of the capital stock of the corporation owning such system and the amount to be paid to discharge all of its obligations in order to vest title to the system or any part thereof in the authority; the cost of improvements; the cost of all land, properties, rights, easements, franchises and permits acquired; the cost of all labor, machinery and equipment; financing and credit enhancement charges; interest prior to and during construction and for one year after completion of construction; any deposit to any bond interest and principal reserve account, start-up costs and reserves and expenditures for operating capital; cost of engineering and legal services, plans, specifications, surveys, estimates of costs and revenues; other expenses necessary or incident to the determining of the feasibility or practicability of any such acquisition, improvement, or construction; administrative expenses and such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing authorized in this chapter and to the acquisition, improvement, or construction of any such system and the placing of the system in operation by the authority. Any obligation or expense incurred by an authority in connection with any of the foregoing items of cost and any obligation or expense incurred by the authority prior to the issuance of revenue bonds under the provisions of this chapter for engineering studies, for estimates of cost and revenues, and for other technical or professional services which may be utilized in the acquisition, improvement or construction of such system is a part of the cost of such system.\n\t\t&#8220;Cost of improvements&#8221; means the cost of constructing improvements and includes the cost of all labor and material; the cost of all land, property, rights, easements, franchises, and permits acquired which are deemed necessary for such construction; interest during any period of disuse during such construction; the cost of all machinery and equipment; financing charges; cost of engineering and legal expenses, plans, specifications; and such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to such construction.\n\t\t&#8220;Federal agency&#8221; means the United States of America or any department, agency, instrumentality, or bureau thereof.\n\t\t&#8220;Green roof&#8221; means a roof or partially covered roof consisting of plants, soil, or another lightweight growing medium that is installed on top of a waterproof membrane and designed in accordance with the Virginia Stormwater Management Program&#8217;s standards and specifications for green roofs, as set forth in the Virginia BMP Clearinghouse.\n\t\t&#8220;Improvements&#8221; means such repairs, replacements, additions, extensions and betterments of and to a system as an authority deems necessary to place or maintain the system in proper condition for the safe, efficient and economical operation thereof or to provide service in areas not currently receiving such service.\n\t\t&#8220;Owner&#8221; includes persons, federal agencies, and units of the Commonwealth having any title or interest in any system, or the services or facilities to be rendered thereby.\n\t\t&#8220;Political subdivision&#8221; means a locality or any institution or commission of the Commonwealth of Virginia.\n\t\t&#8220;Refuse&#8221; means solid waste, including sludge and other discarded material, such as solid, liquid, semi-solid or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations or from community activities or residences. &#8220;Refuse&#8221; does not include (i) solid and dissolved materials in domestic sewage, (ii) solid or dissolved material in irrigation return flows or in industrial discharges which are sources subject to a permit from the Department of Environmental Quality, or (iii) source, special nuclear, or by-product material as defined by the Federal Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. \u00a7 2011, et seq.), as amended.\n\t\t&#8220;Refuse collection and disposal system&#8221; means a system, plant or facility designed to collect, manage, dispose of, or recover and use energy from refuse and the land, structures, vehicles and equipment for use in connection therewith.\n\t\t&#8220;Sewage&#8221; 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 buildings, together with such surface or ground water and household and industrial wastes as may be present.\n\t\t&#8220;Sewage disposal system&#8221; means any system, plant, disposal field, lagoon, pumping station, constructed drainage ditch or surface water intercepting ditch, incinerator, area devoted to sanitary landfills, or other works, installed for the purpose of treating, neutralizing, stabilizing or disposing of sewage, industrial waste or other wastes.\n\t\t&#8220;Sewer system&#8221; or &#8220;sewage system&#8221; means pipelines or conduits, pumping stations, and force mains, and all other constructions, devices, and appliances appurtenant thereto, used for conducting sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes to a plant of ultimate disposal.\n\t\t&#8220;Stormwater control system&#8221; means a structural system of any type that is designed to manage the runoff from land development projects or natural systems designated for such purposes, including, without limitation, retention basins, ponds, wetlands, sewers, conduits, pipelines, pumping and ventilating stations, and other plants, structures, and real and personal property used for support of the system.\n\t\t&#8220;System&#8221; means any sewage disposal system, sewer system, stormwater control system, water or waste system, and for authorities created under Article 6 (\u00a7 15.2-5152 et seq.) of this chapter, such facilities as may be provided by the authority under \u00a7 15.2-5158.\n\t\t&#8220;Unit&#8221; means any department, institution or commission of the Commonwealth; any public corporate instrumentality thereof; any district; or any locality.\n\t\t&#8220;Water or waste system&#8221; means any water system, sewer system, sewage disposal system, or refuse collection and disposal system, or any combination of such systems. &#8220;Water system&#8221; means all plants, systems, facilities or properties used or useful or having the present capacity for future use in connection with the supply or distribution of water, or facilities incident thereto, and any integral part thereof, including water supply systems, water distribution systems, dams and facilities for the generation or transmission of hydroelectric power, reservoirs, wells, intakes, mains, laterals, pumping stations, standpipes, filtration plants, purification plants, hydrants, meters, valves and equipment, appurtenances, and all properties, rights, easements and franchises relating thereto and deemed necessary or convenient by the authority for the operation thereof but not including dams or facilities for the generation or transmission of hydroelectric power that are not incident to plants, systems, facilities or properties used or useful or having the present capacity for future use in connection with the supply or distribution of water.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":249574,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t&#8220;Authority&#8221; means an authority created under the provisions of \u00a7 15.2-5102 or Article 6 (\u00a7 15.2-5152 et seq.) of this chapter or, if any such authority has been abolished, the entity succeeding to the principal functions thereof.\n\t\t&#8220;Bonds&#8221; and &#8220;revenue bonds&#8221; include notes, bonds, bond anticipation notes, and other obligations of an authority for the payment of money.\n\t\t&#8220;Cost,&#8221; as applied to a system, includes the purchase price of the system or the cost of acquiring all of the capital stock of the corporation owning such system and the amount to be paid to discharge all of its obligations in order to vest title to the system or any part thereof in the authority; the cost of improvements; the cost of all land, properties, rights, easements, franchises and permits acquired; the cost of all labor, machinery and equipment; financing and credit enhancement charges; interest prior to and during construction and for one year after completion of construction; any deposit to any bond interest and principal reserve account, start-up costs and reserves and expenditures for operating capital; cost of engineering and legal services, plans, specifications, surveys, estimates of costs and revenues; other expenses necessary or incident to the determining of the feasibility or practicability of any such acquisition, improvement, or construction; administrative expenses and such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing authorized in this chapter and to the acquisition, improvement, or construction of any such system and the placing of the system in operation by the authority. Any obligation or expense incurred by an authority in connection with any of the foregoing items of cost and any obligation or expense incurred by the authority prior to the issuance of revenue bonds under the provisions of this chapter for engineering studies, for estimates of cost and revenues, and for other technical or professional services which may be utilized in the acquisition, improvement or construction of such system is a part of the cost of such system.\n\t\t&#8220;Cost of improvements&#8221; means the cost of constructing improvements and includes the cost of all labor and material; the cost of all land, property, rights, easements, franchises, and permits acquired which are deemed necessary for such construction; interest during any period of disuse during such construction; the cost of all machinery and equipment; financing charges; cost of engineering and legal expenses, plans, specifications; and such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to such construction.\n\t\t&#8220;Federal agency&#8221; means the United States of America or any department, agency, instrumentality, or bureau thereof.\n\t\t&#8220;Green roof&#8221; means a roof or partially covered roof consisting of plants, soil, or another lightweight growing medium that is installed on top of a waterproof membrane and designed in accordance with the Virginia Stormwater Management Program&#8217;s standards and specifications for green roofs, as set forth in the Virginia BMP Clearinghouse.\n\t\t&#8220;Improvements&#8221; means such repairs, replacements, additions, extensions and betterments of and to a system as an authority deems necessary to place or maintain the system in proper condition for the safe, efficient and economical operation thereof or to provide service in areas not currently receiving such service.\n\t\t&#8220;Owner&#8221; includes persons, federal agencies, and units of the Commonwealth having any title or interest in any system, or the services or facilities to be rendered thereby.\n\t\t&#8220;Political subdivision&#8221; means a locality or any institution or commission of the Commonwealth of Virginia.\n\t\t&#8220;Refuse&#8221; means solid waste, including sludge and other discarded material, such as solid, liquid, semi-solid or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations or from community activities or residences. &#8220;Refuse&#8221; does not include (i) solid and dissolved materials in domestic sewage, (ii) solid or dissolved material in irrigation return flows or in industrial discharges which are sources subject to a permit from the Department of Environmental Quality, or (iii) source, special nuclear, or by-product material as defined by the Federal Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. \u00a7 2011, et seq.), as amended.\n\t\t&#8220;Refuse collection and disposal system&#8221; means a system, plant or facility designed to collect, manage, dispose of, or recover and use energy from refuse and the land, structures, vehicles and equipment for use in connection therewith.\n\t\t&#8220;Sewage&#8221; 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 buildings, together with such surface or ground water and household and industrial wastes as may be present.\n\t\t&#8220;Sewage disposal system&#8221; means any system, plant, disposal field, lagoon, pumping station, constructed drainage ditch or surface water intercepting ditch, incinerator, area devoted to sanitary landfills, or other works, installed for the purpose of treating, neutralizing, stabilizing or disposing of sewage, industrial waste or other wastes.\n\t\t&#8220;Sewer system&#8221; or &#8220;sewage system&#8221; means pipelines or conduits, pumping stations, and force mains, and all other constructions, devices, and appliances appurtenant thereto, used for conducting sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes to a plant of ultimate disposal.\n\t\t&#8220;Stormwater control system&#8221; means a structural system of any type that is designed to manage the runoff from land development projects or natural systems designated for such purposes, including, without limitation, retention basins, ponds, wetlands, sewers, conduits, pipelines, pumping and ventilating stations, and other plants, structures, and real and personal property used for support of the system.\n\t\t&#8220;System&#8221; means any sewage disposal system, sewer system, stormwater control system, water or waste system, and for authorities created under Article 6 (\u00a7 15.2-5152 et seq.) of this chapter, such facilities as may be provided by the authority under \u00a7 15.2-5158.\n\t\t&#8220;Unit&#8221; means any department, institution or commission of the Commonwealth; any public corporate instrumentality thereof; any district; or any locality.\n\t\t&#8220;Water or waste system&#8221; means any water system, sewer system, sewage disposal system, or refuse collection and disposal system, or any combination of such systems. &#8220;Water system&#8221; means all plants, systems, facilities or properties used or useful or having the present capacity for future use in connection with the supply or distribution of water, or facilities incident thereto, and any integral part thereof, including water supply systems, water distribution systems, dams and facilities for the generation or transmission of hydroelectric power, reservoirs, wells, intakes, mains, laterals, pumping stations, standpipes, filtration plants, purification plants, hydrants, meters, valves and equipment, appurtenances, and all properties, rights, easements and franchises relating thereto and deemed necessary or convenient by the authority for the operation thereof but not including dams or facilities for the generation or transmission of hydroelectric power that are not incident to plants, systems, facilities or properties used or useful or having the present capacity for future use in connection with the supply or distribution of water.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13434,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13433,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:53","permalink":{"id":158457,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13434,"identifier":"1","token":"15.2\/IV\/51\/1","url":"\/15.2\/IV\/51\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13433,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Water and Waste Authorities Act","identifier":"51","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12721,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:53","permalink":{"id":158455,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13433,"identifier":"51","token":"15.2\/IV\/51","url":"\/15.2\/IV\/51\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12721,"edition_id":1,"name":"Other Governmental Entities","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":157897,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12721,"identifier":"IV","token":"15.2\/IV","url":"\/15.2\/IV\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":54398,"structure_id":13434,"section_number":"15.2-5100","catch_line":"Title of chapter","url":"\/15.2-5100\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/51\/1\/15.2-5100","metadata":false},{"id":68932,"structure_id":13434,"section_number":"15.2-5101","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/15.2-5101\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/51\/1\/15.2-5101","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":54398,"structure_id":13434,"section_number":"15.2-5100","catch_line":"Title of chapter","url":"\/15.2-5100\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/51\/1\/15.2-5100","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-5101\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 9 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1952, chapter 430; in 1962, chapter 623; in 1970, chapter 617; in 1979, chapter 280; in 1982, chapter 469; in 1997, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?971+ful+CHAP0527\">527<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?971+ful+CHAP0573\">573<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?971+ful+CHAP0587\">587<\/a>; in 2006, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?061+ful+CHAP0219\">219<\/a>; in 2009, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?091+ful+CHAP0402\">402<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?091+ful+CHAP0473\">473<\/a>; in 2022, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?221+ful+CHAP0356\">356<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":61731,"section_number":"15.2-2119.1","catch_line":"Credit for excessive water and sewer charges","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2119.1\/"},{"id":81371,"section_number":"15.2-2602","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2602\/"},{"id":75233,"section_number":"56-232","catch_line":"Public utility and schedules defined","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-232\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":79196,"section_number":"15.2-5102","catch_line":"One or more localities may create authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5102\/"},{"id":85282,"section_number":"15.2-5152","catch_line":"Localities may consider petitions for creation of authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5152\/"},{"id":72392,"section_number":"15.2-5158","catch_line":"Additional powers of community development authorities","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5158\/"}],"permalink":{"id":158463,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68932,"identifier":"15.2-5101","token":"15.2\/IV\/51\/1\/15.2-5101","url":"\/15.2-5101\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-5101\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/51\/1\/15.2-5101","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-5101","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Authority<\/span>&#8221; means an <span class=\"dictionary\">authority<\/span> created under the provisions of \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"One or more localities may create authority\" href=\"\/15.2-5102\/\">15.2-5102<\/a> or Article 6 (\u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Localities may consider petitions for creation of authority\" href=\"\/15.2-5152\/\">15.2-5152<\/a> et seq.) of this chapter or, if any such <span class=\"dictionary\">authority<\/span> has been abolished, the entity succeeding to the principal functions thereof.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Bonds<\/span>&#8221; and &#8220;revenue <span class=\"dictionary\">bonds<\/span>&#8221; include notes, <span class=\"dictionary\">bonds<\/span>, <span class=\"dictionary\">bond<\/span> anticipation notes, and other obligations of an <span class=\"dictionary\">authority<\/span> for the payment of money.\n\t\t&#8220;Cost,&#8221; as applied to a system, includes the purchase price of the system or the cost of acquiring all of the capital stock of the corporation owning such system and the amount to be paid to discharge all of its obligations in <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> to vest title to the system or any part thereof in the <span class=\"dictionary\">authority<\/span>; the <span class=\"dictionary\">cost of improvements<\/span>; the cost of all land, properties, rights, easements, franchises and permits acquired; the cost of all labor, machinery and equipment; financing and credit enhancement charges; interest prior to and during construction and for one year after completion of construction; any deposit to any <span class=\"dictionary\">bond<\/span> interest and principal reserve account, start-up costs and reserves and expenditures for operating capital; cost of engineering and legal services, plans, specifications, surveys, estimates of costs and revenues; other expenses necessary or incident to the determining of the feasibility or practicability of any such acquisition, improvement, or construction; administrative expenses and such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing authorized in this chapter and to the acquisition, improvement, or construction of any such system and the placing of the system in operation by the <span class=\"dictionary\">authority<\/span>. Any obligation or expense incurred by an <span class=\"dictionary\">authority<\/span> in connection with any of the foregoing items of cost and any obligation or expense incurred by the <span class=\"dictionary\">authority<\/span> prior to the issuance of revenue <span class=\"dictionary\">bonds<\/span> under the provisions of this chapter for engineering studies, for estimates of cost and revenues, and for other technical or professional services which may be utilized in the acquisition, improvement or construction of such system is a part of the cost of such system.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Cost of improvements<\/span>&#8221; means the cost of constructing improvements and includes the cost of all labor and <span class=\"dictionary\">material<\/span>; the cost of all land, property, rights, easements, franchises, and permits acquired which are deemed necessary for such construction; interest during any period of disuse during such construction; the cost of all machinery and equipment; financing charges; cost of engineering and legal expenses, plans, specifications; and such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to such construction.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Federal agency<\/span>&#8221; means the United States of America or any department, agency, instrumentality, or bureau thereof.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Green roof<\/span>&#8221; means a roof or partially covered roof consisting of plants, soil, or another lightweight growing medium that is installed on top of a waterproof membrane and designed in accordance with the Virginia Stormwater Management Program&#8217;s standards and specifications for <span class=\"dictionary\">green roofs<\/span>, as set forth in the Virginia BMP Clearinghouse.\n\t\t&#8220;Improvements&#8221; means such repairs, replacements, additions, extensions and betterments of and to a system as an <span class=\"dictionary\">authority<\/span> deems necessary to place or maintain the system in proper condition for the safe, efficient and economical operation thereof or to provide service in areas not currently receiving such service.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Owner<\/span>&#8221; includes persons, federal agencies, and <span class=\"dictionary\">units<\/span> of the Commonwealth having any title or interest in any system, or the services or facilities to be rendered thereby.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Political subdivision<\/span>&#8221; means a <span class=\"dictionary\">locality<\/span> or any institution or commission of the Commonwealth of Virginia.\n\t\t&#8220;Refuse&#8221; means solid waste, including sludge and other discarded <span class=\"dictionary\">material<\/span>, such as solid, liquid, semi-solid or contained gaseous <span class=\"dictionary\">material<\/span> resulting from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations or from community activities or residences. &#8220;Refuse&#8221; does not include (i) solid and dissolved <span class=\"dictionary\">materials<\/span> in domestic sewage, (ii) solid or dissolved <span class=\"dictionary\">material<\/span> in irrigation return flows or in industrial discharges which are sources subject to a permit from the Department of Environmental Quality, or (iii) source, special nuclear, or by-product <span class=\"dictionary\">material<\/span> as defined by the Federal Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. \u00a7&nbsp;2011, et seq.), as amended.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Refuse collection and disposal system<\/span>&#8221; means a system, plant or facility designed to collect, manage, dispose of, or recover and use energy from refuse and the land, structures, vehicles and equipment for use in connection therewith.\n\t\t&#8220;Sewage&#8221; 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 buildings, together with such surface or ground water and household and industrial wastes as may be present.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Sewage disposal system<\/span>&#8221; means any system, plant, disposal field, lagoon, pumping station, constructed drainage ditch or surface water intercepting ditch, incinerator, area devoted to sanitary landfills, or other works, installed for the purpose of treating, neutralizing, stabilizing or disposing of sewage, industrial waste or other wastes.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Sewer system<\/span>&#8221; or &#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">sewage system<\/span>&#8221; means pipelines or conduits, pumping stations, and force mains, and all other constructions, devices, and appliances appurtenant thereto, used for conducting sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes to a plant of ultimate disposal.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Stormwater control system<\/span>&#8221; means a structural system of any type that is designed to manage the runoff from land development projects or natural <span class=\"dictionary\">systems<\/span> designated for such purposes, including, without limitation, retention basins, ponds, wetlands, sewers, conduits, pipelines, pumping and ventilating stations, and other plants, structures, and real and personal property used for support of the system.\n\t\t&#8220;System&#8221; means any <span class=\"dictionary\">sewage disposal system<\/span>, <span class=\"dictionary\">sewer system<\/span>, <span class=\"dictionary\">stormwater control system<\/span>, <span class=\"dictionary\">water or waste system<\/span>, and for authorities created under Article 6 (\u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Localities may consider petitions for creation of authority\" href=\"\/15.2-5152\/\">15.2-5152<\/a> et seq.) of this chapter, such facilities as may be provided by the <span class=\"dictionary\">authority<\/span> under \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Additional powers of community development authorities\" href=\"\/15.2-5158\/\">15.2-5158<\/a>.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Unit<\/span>&#8221; means any department, institution or commission of the Commonwealth; any public corporate instrumentality thereof; any district; or any <span class=\"dictionary\">locality<\/span>.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Water or waste system<\/span>&#8221; means any <span class=\"dictionary\">water system<\/span>, <span class=\"dictionary\">sewer system<\/span>, <span class=\"dictionary\">sewage disposal system<\/span>, or <span class=\"dictionary\">refuse collection and disposal system<\/span>, or any combination of such <span class=\"dictionary\">systems<\/span>. &#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Water system<\/span>&#8221; means all plants, <span class=\"dictionary\">systems<\/span>, facilities or properties used or useful or having the present capacity for future use in connection with the supply or distribution of water, or facilities incident thereto, and any integral part thereof, including water supply <span class=\"dictionary\">systems<\/span>, water distribution <span class=\"dictionary\">systems<\/span>, dams and facilities for the generation or transmission of hydroelectric power, reservoirs, wells, intakes, mains, laterals, pumping stations, standpipes, filtration plants, purification plants, hydrants, meters, valves and equipment, appurtenances, and all properties, rights, easements and franchises relating thereto and deemed necessary or convenient by the <span class=\"dictionary\">authority<\/span> for the operation thereof but not including dams or facilities for the generation or transmission of hydroelectric power that are not incident to plants, <span class=\"dictionary\">systems<\/span>, facilities or properties used or useful or having the present capacity for future use in connection with the supply or distribution of water.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 15.2-5101)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t&#8220;Authority&#8221; means an authority created under the provisions of \u00a7\n15.2-5102 or Article 6 (\u00a7 15.2-5152 et seq.) of this chapter or, if any such\nauthority has been abolished, the entity succeeding to the principal functions\nthereof.\n\t\t&#8220;Bonds&#8221; and &#8220;revenue bonds&#8221; include notes, bonds, bond\nanticipation notes, and other obligations of an authority for the payment of\nmoney.\n\t\t&#8220;Cost,&#8221; as applied to a system, includes the purchase price of the\nsystem or the cost of acquiring all of the capital stock of the corporation\nowning such system and the amount to be paid to discharge all of its obligations\nin order to vest title to the system or any part thereof in the authority; the\ncost of improvements; the cost of all land, properties, rights, easements,\nfranchises and permits acquired; the cost of all labor, machinery and equipment;\nfinancing and credit enhancement charges; interest prior to and during\nconstruction and for one year after completion of construction; any deposit to\nany bond interest and principal reserve account, start-up costs and reserves and\nexpenditures for operating capital; cost of engineering and legal services,\nplans, specifications, surveys, estimates of costs and revenues; other expenses\nnecessary or incident to the determining of the feasibility or practicability of\nany such acquisition, improvement, or construction; administrative expenses and\nsuch other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing authorized\nin this chapter and to the acquisition, improvement, or construction of any such\nsystem and the placing of the system in operation by the authority. Any\nobligation or expense incurred by an authority in connection with any of the\nforegoing items of cost and any obligation or expense incurred by the authority\nprior to the issuance of revenue bonds under the provisions of this chapter for\nengineering studies, for estimates of cost and revenues, and for other technical\nor professional services which may be utilized in the acquisition, improvement\nor construction of such system is a part of the cost of such system.\n\t\t&#8220;Cost of improvements&#8221; means the cost of constructing improvements\nand includes the cost of all labor and material; the cost of all land, property,\nrights, easements, franchises, and permits acquired which are deemed necessary\nfor such construction; interest during any period of disuse during such\nconstruction; the cost of all machinery and equipment; financing charges; cost\nof engineering and legal expenses, plans, specifications; and such other\nexpenses as may be necessary or incident to such construction.\n\t\t&#8220;Federal agency&#8221; means the United States of America or any\ndepartment, agency, instrumentality, or bureau thereof.\n\t\t&#8220;Green roof&#8221; means a roof or partially covered roof consisting of\nplants, soil, or another lightweight growing medium that is installed on top of\na waterproof membrane and designed in accordance with the Virginia Stormwater\nManagement Program&#8217;s standards and specifications for green roofs, as set\nforth in the Virginia BMP Clearinghouse.\n\t\t&#8220;Improvements&#8221; means such repairs, replacements, additions,\nextensions and betterments of and to a system as an authority deems necessary to\nplace or maintain the system in proper condition for the safe, efficient and\neconomical operation thereof or to provide service in areas not currently\nreceiving such service.\n\t\t&#8220;Owner&#8221; includes persons, federal agencies, and units of the\nCommonwealth having any title or interest in any system, or the services or\nfacilities to be rendered thereby.\n\t\t&#8220;Political subdivision&#8221; means a locality or any institution or\ncommission of the Commonwealth of Virginia.\n\t\t&#8220;Refuse&#8221; means solid waste, including sludge and other discarded\nmaterial, such as solid, liquid, semi-solid or contained gaseous material\nresulting from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations or\nfrom community activities or residences. &#8220;Refuse&#8221; does not include\n(i) solid and dissolved materials in domestic sewage, (ii) solid or dissolved\nmaterial in irrigation return flows or in industrial discharges which are\nsources subject to a permit from the Department of Environmental Quality, or\n(iii) source, special nuclear, or by-product material as defined by the Federal\nAtomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. \u00a7 2011, et seq.), as amended.\n\t\t&#8220;Refuse collection and disposal system&#8221; means a system, plant or\nfacility designed to collect, manage, dispose of, or recover and use energy from\nrefuse and the land, structures, vehicles and equipment for use in connection\ntherewith.\n\t\t&#8220;Sewage&#8221; means the water-carried wastes created in and carried, or\nto be carried, away from residences, hotels, schools, hospitals, industrial\nestablishments, commercial establishments or any other private or public\nbuildings, together with such surface or ground water and household and\nindustrial wastes as may be present.\n\t\t&#8220;Sewage disposal system&#8221; means any system, plant, disposal field,\nlagoon, pumping station, constructed drainage ditch or surface water\nintercepting ditch, incinerator, area devoted to sanitary landfills, or other\nworks, installed for the purpose of treating, neutralizing, stabilizing or\ndisposing of sewage, industrial waste or other wastes.\n\t\t&#8220;Sewer system&#8221; or &#8220;sewage system&#8221; means pipelines or\nconduits, pumping stations, and force mains, and all other constructions,\ndevices, and appliances appurtenant thereto, used for conducting sewage,\nindustrial wastes or other wastes to a plant of ultimate disposal.\n\t\t&#8220;Stormwater control system&#8221; means a structural system of any type\nthat is designed to manage the runoff from land development projects or natural\nsystems designated for such purposes, including, without limitation, retention\nbasins, ponds, wetlands, sewers, conduits, pipelines, pumping and ventilating\nstations, and other plants, structures, and real and personal property used for\nsupport of the system.\n\t\t&#8220;System&#8221; means any sewage disposal system, sewer system,\nstormwater control system, water or waste system, and for authorities created\nunder Article 6 (\u00a7 15.2-5152 et seq.) of this chapter, such facilities as may\nbe provided by the authority under \u00a7 15.2-5158.\n\t\t&#8220;Unit&#8221; means any department, institution or commission of the\nCommonwealth; any public corporate instrumentality thereof; any district; or any\nlocality.\n\t\t&#8220;Water or waste system&#8221; means any water system, sewer system,\nsewage disposal system, or refuse collection and disposal system, or any\ncombination of such systems. &#8220;Water system&#8221; means all plants,\nsystems, facilities or properties used or useful or having the present capacity\nfor future use in connection with the supply or distribution of water, or\nfacilities incident thereto, and any integral part thereof, including water\nsupply systems, water distribution systems, dams and facilities for the\ngeneration or transmission of hydroelectric power, reservoirs, wells, intakes,\nmains, laterals, pumping stations, standpipes, filtration plants, purification\nplants, hydrants, meters, valves and equipment, appurtenances, and all\nproperties, rights, easements and franchises relating thereto and deemed\nnecessary or convenient by the authority for the operation thereof but not\nincluding dams or facilities for the generation or transmission of hydroelectric\npower that are not incident to plants, systems, facilities or properties used or\nuseful or having the present capacity for future use in connection with the\nsupply or distribution of water.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-764.2; 1950, p. 1312; 1952, c. 430; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7\n15.1-1240; 1970, c. 617; 1979, c. 280; 1982, c. 469; 1997, cc. 527, 573, 587;\n2006, c. 219; 2009, cc. 402, 473; 2022, c. 356.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}