§3097.2. Definitions

Unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings for purposes of this Chapter:

(1) "Area of ground water concern" shall mean an area in which, under current usage and normal environmental conditions, sustainability of an aquifer is not being maintained due to either movement of a salt water front, water level decline, or subsidence, resulting in unacceptable environmental, economic, social, or health impact, or causing serious adverse impact to an aquifer, considering the areal and temporal extent of all such impacts. An area of ground water concern, declared pursuant to R.S. 38:3097.6, shall be designated a critical area of ground water concern when the commissioner finds that sustainability cannot be maintained without withdrawal restrictions.

(2) "Beneficial use" means the technologically feasible use of ground water for domestic, municipal, industrial, agricultural, recreational, or therapeutic purpose, or any other advantageous purpose.

(3) "Commission" shall mean the Water Resources Commission, established by R.S. 38:3097.4.

(4) "Commissioner" shall mean the commissioner of conservation.

(5) "Domestic well" shall mean a water well used exclusively to supply the household needs of the owner, lessee, or his family. Uses may include but are not limited to drinking, cooking, washing, sanitary purposes, lawn and garden watering, and caring for pets. Domestic wells shall also include wells used on private farms and ranches for the feeding and caring of pets and watering of lawns, excluding livestock, crops, and ponds.

(6) "Ground water" is water suitable for any beneficial use percolating below the earth's surface which contains fewer than 10,000 mg/l total dissolved solids, including water suitable for domestic use or supply for a domestic water system.

(7) "Ground water emergency" shall mean an unanticipated occurrence as a result of a natural force or a man-made act which causes a ground water source to become immediately unavailable for beneficial use for the foreseeable future or drought conditions determined by the commissioner to warrant the temporary use of drought relief wells to assure the sustained production of agricultural products in the state.

(8) "Historic ground water production" means the average annual production of a ground water well since the calendar year 1995.

(9) "Large volume well" means a well with an exterior casing size of eight inches or greater in diameter, or as defined by rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.

(10) "Person" shall mean any natural person, corporation, association, partnership, receiver, tutor, curator, executor, administrator, fiduciary, or representative of any kind, or any governmental entity.

(11) "Replacement well" shall mean a well located within one thousand feet of the original well and within the same property boundary as the original well, installed within the same aquifer over an equivalent interval with an equivalent pumping rate, and used for the same purpose as the original well.

(12) "Spacing" means the distance a water well may be located in relation to an existing or proposed water well, regardless of property boundaries.

(13) "Sustainability" means the development and use of ground water in a manner that can be maintained for the present and future time without causing unacceptable environmental, economic, social, or health consequences.

(14) "User" shall mean any person who is making beneficial use of ground water from a well or wells owned or operated by such person.

(15) "Well" or "water well" shall mean any well drilled or constructed for the principal purpose of producing ground water.

Acts 2003, No. 49, §2, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2005, No. 225, §1, eff. June 29, 2005; Acts 2012, No. 471, §2.

NOTE: See Acts 2005, No. 225, §2, relative to pending and previous declarations.