15-22-903. Definitions.

15-22-903. Definitions. As used in this subchapter: (1) “Administrative Procedure Act” means the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq.; (2) “Aquifer” means a permeable, water-bearing stratum of rock, sand, or gravel; (3) “Beneficial use” means the use of water in such quantity as is economical and efficient and which use is for a purpose and in a manner which is reasonable, not wasteful, and is compatible with the public interest; (4) “Commission” means the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission created under § 15-20-201; (5) “Conservation district” means conservation districts created under the Conservation Districts Law, § 14-125-101 et seq.; (6) “Critical groundwater area” is defined in the Arkansas Water Plan developed by the commission under its authority in § 15-22-503; (7) “District” means a conservation district or regional water district; (8) “Domestic use” means the use of water for ordinary household purposes, including human consumption, washing, the watering of domestic livestock, poultry, and animals, and the watering of home gardens for consumption by the household; (9) “Groundwater” means water beneath the surface of the ground; (10) “Person” means any natural person, partnership, firm, association, cooperative, municipality, county, public or private corporation, and state or local governmental agency; (11) “Regional water district” means a regional water distribution district created under The Regional Water Distribution District Act, § 14-116-101 et seq.; (12) “Sustaining aquifer” means any aquifer excluding the state's alluvial aquifers that is used as a significant source for water supply including, but not limited to, the Cockfield, Sparta, Memphis, Cane River, Carrizo, Wilcox, Nacatoch, Roubidoux, and Gunter aquifers; (13) “Water right” means the authority or permission issued by the commission under this subchapter to use groundwater within a critical groundwater area; (14) “Water year” means the twelve-month period beginning October 1 and ending the next September 30; and (15)(A) “Well” means any hole dug, drilled, or otherwise constructed in the ground for the purpose of withdrawing groundwater. (B) For the purpose of this subchapter, a well also must have a potential flow rate of fifty thousand gallons (50,000 gals.) per day or greater.