The following definitions shall apply to this part:

1. (1) “Applicant” means a political subdivision or state agency requesting water plan compliance approval;
2. (2) “Arkansas Water Plan” or “plan” means the comprehensive program for the orderly development and management of the state's water and related land resources;
3. (3) “Commission” means the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission;
4. (4) “Director” means the person appointed to administer the affairs of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission;
5. (5) “Master plan” means a plan designed to address a political subdivision’s water or wastewater needs that specifically references and delineates the applicant’s plans for future growth of its system;

6. (6) “Municipality” means both Arkansas:

   1. (A) Municipal corporations; and
   2. (B) Consolidated municipal water improvement districts;
7. (7) “Political subdivision” means any county, municipality, district, or any agency, instrumentality, or function thereof of the State of Arkansas;
8. (8) “Property acquisition” means the annexation of any part of an assigned service area of a rural water service or municipality within the boundaries of an Arkansas municipality and is further described by Arkansas Code § 14-208-102;

9. (9) “Rural water service” means any entity under Arkansas law that is not owned by a municipality and is a:

   1. (A) Water association;
   2. (B) Water improvement district; or
   3. (C) Water authority;

10. (10) “Service area” means either an area:

    1. (A) That is provided water or wastewater service by a system; or
    2. (B) Not receiving water or wastewater service that is included within a system’s approved master plan or water development project as an area where the system will provide service in the near future;

11. (11)

    1. (A) “Water development project” means the construction, acquisition, ownership, replacement, operation, and maintenance of facilities, including land, easements, and works of improvement, for the protection, conservation, preservation, development, utilization, and proper disposal of the state's water resources and related land resources.
    2. (B) Reference to “water development project” within this part also includes wastewater development projects; and
12. (12) “Water plan approval”, “water plan compliance”, or “water plan certification” means authorization from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to construct, operate, manage, or maintain a water development project.