(1) “Authority” means the Tennessee local development authority, a public agency, created by title 4, chapter 31, or its successor;

(2) “Construction” means the erection, building, acquisition, alteration, reconstruction, improvement or extension of sewage treatment works, preliminary planning to determine the economic and engineering feasibility of sewage treatment works, the engineering, architectural, legal, fiscal and economic investigations and studies, surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, procedures, and other action necessary in the construction of sewage treatment works, and the inspection and supervision of the construction of sewage treatment works;

(3) “Department” means the department of environment and conservation;

(4) “Eligible project” means a project for construction of sewage treatment works:

(A) For which approval is required under this chapter;

(B) Which is, in the judgment of the department, either eligible for federal pollution abatement assistance, or required to be undertaken by a federal or state agency, whether or not federal funds are then available therefor;

(C) Which conforms with applicable rules and regulations of the department; and

(D) Which is, in the judgment of the department, necessary for the accomplishment of the state's policy of water purity as established by the Tennessee board of water quality, oil and gas under § 69-3-105;

(D) Which is, in the judgment of the department, necessary for the accomplishment of the state's policy of water purity as established by the Tennessee board of energy and natural resources under § 69-3-105;

(5) “Federal pollution abatement assistance” means funds available to a municipality, either directly or through allocation by the state, from the federal government as grants for construction of sewage treatment works;

(6) “Grant,” “grants,” “state grant,” “state grants,” “repayable grant,” or “repayable grants” means the loan or loans of state funds to a municipality to be repaid by the municipality excluding any federal pollution abatement assistance;

(7) “Municipality” means any county, town or city, or special district empowered to provide municipal sewage collection and treatment services, or any combination of two (2) or more of the foregoing acting jointly, in connection with an eligible project;

(8) “Sewage treatment works” means any facility for the purpose of treating, neutralizing or stabilizing municipal sewage, including treatment or disposal plants, the necessary intercepting, outfall and outlet sewers, pumping stations integral to such plants or sewers, equipment and furnishings thereof and their appurtenances; and

(9) “User” means the owner, tenant or occupant of any lot or parcel of land connected to a sanitary sewer, or for which a sanitary sewer line is available if a municipality levies a sewer charge on the basis of such availability.