When used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section.
1. “By-pass channel” means a channel formed in the topography of the earth’s surface to carry storm water runoff through a specific area.
2. “Control structure” means a structure designed to control the flow of storm water runoff that passes through it during a specific length of time.
3. “Development” means the improvement of the land from its natural state to one providing for residential, industrial or commercial use.
4. “Dry bottom storm water storage area” means a facility designed to be normally dry and contain water only when excess storm water runoff occurs.
5. “Excess storm water” means that portion of storm water runoff which exceeds the transportation capacity of storm sewers or natural drainage channels serving a specific watershed.
6. “Natural drainage” means channels formed by the existing surface topography prior to changes made by unnatural causes.
7. “Safe storm drainage capacity” means the flow of storm water runoff that can be transported by a channel or conduit without causing a rise of the water surface over the conduit or adjacent to the channel.
8. “Storm water runoff” means the flow of water resulting from precipitation which is not absorbed by the soil or plant material.
9. “Storm water runoff release rate” means the rate at which storm water runoff is released from dominant to subservient land.
10. “Storm water storage areas” means areas designed to store excess storm water.
11. “Tributary watershed” means all of the area that contributes storm water runoff to a given point.
12. “Wet bottom storm water storage area” means a facility designed to be maintained as a pond or free water surface and which has the capacity to contain excess storm water runoff.
13. “‘X’-year storm” means the average recurrence intervals within which a rainfall of given intensity and duration will be equaled or exceeded only once. A 100-year storm would have an intensity of rainfall which would, on the average, be equaled or exceeded only once in 100 years. This does not imply that it will occur in 100 years, or having occurred, will not happen again for 100 years.