§ 6.05.01. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Alter or alteration means work done on a stormwater management system other than that necessary to maintain the system's original design and function.

Detention means the collection and storage for surface water for subsequent gradual discharge.

Existing, for purposes of the stormwater management provisions of this Land Development Code, means the average condition immediately before development or redevelopment commences.

Impervious surface means a surface that has been compacted or covered with a layer of material so that it is highly resistant to infiltration by water. The term "impervious surface" includes, but is not limited to, semi-impervious surfaces such as compacted clay, as well as, most conventionally surfaced streets, roofs, sidewalks, parking lots and other similar structures.

Maintenance means that action taken to restore or preserve the original design and function of any stormwater management system.

Natural systems means systems which predominantly consist of, or are used by, those communities of plants, animals, bacteria and other flora and fauna which occur indigenously on the land, in the soil or in the water.

Owner means the person in whom is vested the fee ownership, domain or title of property, i.e., the proprietor. The term "owner" may also include a tenant, if chargeable under his lease for the maintenance of the property, and any agent of the owner or tenant including a developer.

Percolation means the downward movement of surface rainwater and stormwater through surface vegetation and soils so as to become integrated into the natural groundwater or aquifer.

Person means any and all persons, natural or artificial, and includes any individual, firm, corporation, government agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, two or more persons having a joint or common interest, or any other legal entity.

Rate means volume per unit of time.

Retention means the collection and storage or runoff without subsequent discharge to surface waters.

Runoff coefficient means ratio of the amount of rain which runs off a surface to that which falls on it; a factor from which runoff can be calculated.

Sediment means the mineral or organic particulate material that is in suspension or has settled in surface water or groundwater.

Site means generally, any tract, lot or parcel of land or combination of tracts, lots or parcels of land that are in one ownership, or in diverse ownership but contiguous, and which are to be developed as a single unit, subdivision or project.

Stormwater means the flow of water which results from, and that occurs immediately following, a rainfall.

Stormwater management system means the system, or combination of systems, designed to treat stormwater, or collect, convey, channel, hold, inhibit or divert the movement of stormwater on, through and from a site.

Stormwater runoff means that portion of the stormwater that flows from the land surface of a site either naturally, in manmade ditches or in a closed conduit system.

Surface water means water above the surface of the ground whether or not flowing through definite channels, including the following:

(1)

Any natural or artificial pond, lake, reservoir or other area which ordinarily or intermittently contains water and which has a discernable shoreline;

(2)

Any natural or artificial stream, river, creek, channel, ditch, canal, conduit, culvert, drain, waterway, gully, ravine, street, roadway, swale or wash in which water flows in a definite direction, either continuously or intermittently, and which has a definite channel, bed or banks; or

(3)

Any wetland.

Wetland means land that is inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. The term "wetland" includes, but is not limited to, swamp hammocks, hardwood swamps, riverine cypress, cypress ponds, bayheads and bogs, wet prairies, freshwater marshes and mangrove swamps.

(Ord. No. 91-6, § 3(6.05.01), 2-11-1992)