Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions govern the construction of this chapter:

(a) “Acceptable result” means the project that, when constructed, solves the problem for which the project was placed on the project priority list, ensures the owner and operator of the improved or restructured public water system shall have long-term technical, managerial, and financial capacity to operate and maintain the public water system in compliance with state and federal safe drinking water standards, can provide a dependable source of safe drinking water long-term, and is both short-term and long-term affordable, as determined by the board.

(b) “Administrative fund” means the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Administration Fund created by Section 116761.70.

(c) “Board” means the State Water Resources Control Board.

(d) “Cost-effective” means achieves an acceptable result at the most reasonable cost.

(e) “Disadvantaged community” means a community that meets the definition provided in Section 116275.

(f) “Federal Safe Drinking Water Act” or “federal act” means the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300f et seq.) and acts amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto.

(g) “Fund” means the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund created by Section 116760.30.

(h) “Financing” means financial assistance awarded under this chapter, including loans, refinancing, installment sales agreements, purchase of debt, loan guarantees for municipal revolving funds, and grants.

(i) “Matching funds” means state money that equals that percentage of federal contributions required by the federal act to be matched with state funds.

(j) “Project” means cost-effective facilities for the construction, improvement, or rehabilitation of a public water system. It also may include the planning and design of the facilities, annexation or consolidation of water systems, source water assessments, source water protection, and other activities specified under the federal act.

(k) “Public agency” means any city, county, city and county, whether general law or chartered, district, joint powers authority, or other political subdivision of the state, that owns or operates a public water system, or any municipality, as that term is defined in the federal act.

(l) “Public water system” or “public water supply system” means a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption, as defined in Section 116275.

(m) “Safe drinking water standards” means those standards established pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 116270), as they may now or hereafter be amended.

(n) “Severely disadvantaged community” means a community with a median household income of less than 60 percent of the statewide average.

(o) “Small community water system” has the meaning set forth in Section 116275.

(p) “Supplier” means any person, partnership, corporation, association, public agency, or other entity that owns or operates a public water system.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 673, Sec. 13. (AB 1531) Effective January 1, 2016.)