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

(a) “Account” means the Water Conservation Account created by Section 79152.

(b) (1) “Water conservation program or project” means those feasible capital outlay measures undertaken to improve the efficiency of water use through projects, the benefits of which exceed the costs.

(2) The programs include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(A) The lining or piping of ditches.

(B) Improvements in water distribution system controls such as automated canal control, construction of small reservoirs within distribution systems that conserve water that has already been captured for use, and related physical improvements.

(C) Tailwater pumpback recovery systems.

(D) Major improvements to, or replacement of, deteriorated distribution systems to reduce leakage and maximize conservation.

(E) Capital outlay features of agricultural water conservation programs identified in the “Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Efficient Agricultural Water Management Practices,” dated July 16, 1997, and endorsed by the Agricultural Water Management Council, and any amendments thereto.

(c) “Economically disadvantaged area” means any area of the state for which both of the following statements apply:

(1) A median household income that is less than forty thousand dollars ($40,000) based on the most recent federal census.

(2) An annual average unemployment rate that is greater than 9 percent based on the most recent federal census.

(d) (1) “Groundwater recharge facilities” means lands and facilities for artificial groundwater recharge through methods that include, but are not limited to, percolation using basins, pits, ditches, and furrows, modified streambeds, flooding, and well injection. For the purposes of this chapter, expenditures for “groundwater recharge facilities” include capital outlay expenditures to expand, renovate, or restructure land and facilities used for the purposes of groundwater recharge and to acquire additional land for recharge basins.

(2) Groundwater recharge facilities may include any of the following:

(A) Instream facilities for regulation of water levels, but not regulation of streamflow to accomplish diversion from the waterway.

(B) Agency-owned facilities for extraction.

(C) Conveyance facilities to convey water to the recharge site, including devices for flow regulation and measurement of recharge waters.

(3) Any part or all of the project facilities, including the land under the facilities, may consist of separable features, or an appropriate share of multipurpose features, of a larger system, or both.

(e) “Infrastructure rehabilitation project” means a project located in an economically disadvantaged area for the repair, replacement, restoration, or rehabilitation of an existing water distribution system that delivers water for domestic, municipal, or industrial uses, including pipelines, pump stations, valves, meters, reservoirs, and all other appurtenant water delivery facilities that result in the reduction or elimination of significant distribution system water losses or replace a failing system component that threatens the health, safety, welfare, and economy of areas relying on the water distribution system.

(f) “Local agency” or “agency” means any city, county, city and county, district, joint powers authority, or other political subdivision of the state involved with water management. “Local agency” or “agency” also means a mutual water company. For purposes of this chapter, mutual water company means a nonprofit corporation organized for, or engaged in the business of, developing, distributing, supplying, or delivering water for irrigation or domestic use, or both, to its members or shareholders, at actual cost plus necessary expenses.

(g) “Project” may include any of the following:

(1) Water conservation project.

(2) Groundwater recharge facilities.

(3) Urban water conservation project.

(4) Infrastructure rehabilitation project.

(h) “Urban water conservation project” means capital outlay features of urban water conservation programs identified in the “Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Urban Water Conservation in California,” as amended on April 8, 1998, by the California Urban Water Conservation Council, and any amendments thereto.

(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 725, Sec. 1. Approved in Proposition 13 at the March 7, 2000, election.)