(a) “Act” means the Mississippi Gulf Coast Region Utility Act.

(b) “Bonds” mean interim notes having a maturity of three (3) years or less, revenue bonds and other certificates of indebtedness of the authority issued under the provisions of this act.

(c) “County authority” means a county utility authority created in the Gulf Coast Region under this act.

(d) “Fiscal year” means the period of time beginning on October 1 of each year and ending on September 30 of each year.

(e) “Gulf Coast Region” means the areas encompassed by the Counties of George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River and Stone.

(f) “Municipality” means any incorporated city, town or village of the State of Mississippi, whether operating under general law or under special charter, lying wholly or partly within the Gulf Coast Region.

(g) “Person” means the State of Mississippi, a county, a municipality, any public agency, or any other city, town, village or political subdivision or governmental agency, governmental instrumentality of the State of Mississippi or of the United States of America, or any private utility, individual, co-partnership, association, firm, trust, estate or any other entity whatsoever.

(h) “Project” means the construction, development or acquisition by the county authority or county authorities of any infrastructure for water, wastewater and storm water systems or services and includes upgrading or repair of existing systems.

(i) “Public agency” means any county, municipality, state board or commission owning or operating properties, district created pursuant to the general laws or local and private laws of the State of Mississippi, or other political subdivision of the State of Mississippi having the power to own and operate waterworks, water supply systems, sewerage systems, sewage treatment systems or other facilities or systems for the collection, transportation and treatment of water, wastewater and storm water.

(j) “Storm water” means any flow occurring during or following any form of natural precipitation and resulting from that precipitation.

(k) “System” or “systems” means any plants, structures, facilities and other real and personal property, used or useful in the generation, storage, transportation or supply of water, and the collection, transportation, treatment or disposal of wastewater and storm water, including, but not limited to, tanks, lakes, streams, ponds, pipes, trunk lines, mains, sewers, conduits, pipelines, pumping and ventilating stations, plants and works, connections and any other real and personal property and rights therein necessary, useful or convenient for the purposes of the utility board or authorities in connection therewith.

(l) “Wastewater” means water being disposed of by any person and which is contaminated with waste or sewage, including industrial, municipal and any other wastewater that may cause impairment of the quality of the waters in the state.

(m) “Water” means potable water, service water and groundwater.

(n) “Utility board” means the Mississippi Gulf Coast Region Utility Board.