Orange County NC Website
Article 10: Definitions <br /> Section 10.1: Definitions <br /> <br />Orange County, North Carolina – Unified Development Ordinance Page 10-65 <br /> <br />A system of wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal in single or multiple components, including <br />ground absorption systems, non-discharge systems, and systems that discharge effluent to the surface <br />waters, and any other system as may be permitted by the Orange County Health Department or the State <br />of North Carolina. (ref. NCGS Article 11, Chapter 130A) <br />Waterbody, Perennial <br />A natural or constructed basin that stores surface water permanently at depths sufficient to preclude <br />growth of rooted plants, including lakes, ponds, sounds, non-stream estuaries, and oceans. For the <br />purpose of stormwater provision of this Ordinance, the waterbody must be part of a natural drainageway <br />(i.e. connected by surface flow to a stream). <br />Water-Dependent Structure <br />Any structure for which the use requires access to or proximity to or citing within surface waters to fulfill its <br />basic purpose, such as boat ramps, boathouses, docks and bulkheads. Ancillary facilities such as <br />restaurants, outlets for boat supplies, parking lots and commercial boat storage areas are not water- <br />dependent structures. <br />Water Feature <br />A prominent aspect or characteristic of a geographic area that exhibits verifiable evidence of a presence <br />of water in the soil. Examples of water features include, but are not limited to, perennial and intermittent <br />streams, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, springs, artesian wells, irrigation wells, marshes or swamps, wetlands, <br />and natural drainage ditches (non-ephemeral). <br />Water surface elevation (WSE) <br />The height, in relation to mean sea level, of floods of various magnitudes and frequencies in the <br />floodplains of coastal or riverine areas.53 <br />Watercourse <br />A lake, river, creek, stream, wash, channel or other topographic feature on or over which waters flow at <br />least periodically. Watercourse includes specifically designated areas in which substantial flood damage <br />may occur. <br />Water Supply, Public <br />A water supply system that serves a city or town located partly or entirely within Orange County that has a <br />population in excess of 2,500. <br />Water Supply Watershed (or Protected Watershed) <br />Land that drains to existing reservoirs which are public water supplies or potential reservoir sites or <br />stream intakes which have been designated for protection. All such lands have been classified by the <br />Environmental Management Commission as WS-II, WS-III or WS-IV watersheds and require protection in <br />accordance with the State Mandate. (See definition for “State Mandate”). <br />Water Supply Watershed Critical Area, County Designated <br />The land area within one-half mile of the normal pool elevation (or designated elevation) of an existing <br />Class II water supply reservoir, or the ridgeline of the watershed, whichever is less; and the land area <br />within one-half mile of the normal pool elevation (or designated elevation) of a proposed water supply <br />reservoir designated for protection, or the ridgeline of the watershed, whichever is less; and the area <br />within one-half mile of streams flowing into Class I reservoirs, as designated for protection within this <br />Ordinance. <br />Water Supply Watershed Critical Area, State Required <br />The land area within one-half mile of the normal pool elevation of water supply reservoirs in which an <br />intake is located (i.e., Class I reservoirs), or the ridgeline of the watershed, whichever is less. <br /> <br />53 As we are not in a coastal area there is no need to reference same in our definition(s) section.  <br /> 172