§ 34-2. Definitions.

For the purpose of this article the following terms, phrases, words and their derivatives shall have the meanings given herein unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural include the singular, and words in the singular include the plural. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.

District means the Suwannee River Water Management District or the Southwest Florida Water Management District, as the context indicates.

Districts means both the Suwannee River Water Management District and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Person means any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, organization or entity of any kind.

Simultaneous declaration means simultaneous or overlapping declarations of water shortage or water shortage emergency applicable to any portion or portions of the county by the governing board or executive director of both districts.

Water resource means any and all water on or beneath the surface of the ground, including natural or artificial water courses, lakes, ponds, or diffused surface water, and water percolating, standing, or flowing beneath the surface of the ground.

Water shortage condition means a condition when sufficient water is not available to meet present or anticipated needs of persons using the water resource, or when conditions are such as to require temporary reduction in total water usage within a particular area to protect the water resource from serious harm. A water shortage usually occurs due to drought.

Water shortage emergency means that situation when the powers which can be exercised by either district under chapter 40B-21 or chapter 40D-21 of the Florida Administrative Code, as applicable to the specific district, are not sufficient to protect the public health, safety, or welfare, or the health of animals, fish or aquatic life, or a public water supply, or commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational or other reasonable uses.

Water shortage restrictions means all lawn irrigation, landscape irrigation and related outdoor water shortage restrictions adopted by a district to be imposed during a water shortage or water shortage emergency declared by such district.

(Ord. No. 2015-06 , § 2, 6-23-2015)