(a) This chapter may be cited as the "Alabama Water Pollution Control Act."
(b) For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise indicated, the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
(1) COMMISSION. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
(2) WATERS. All waters of any river, stream, watercourse, pond, lake, coastal, ground or surface water, wholly or partially within the state, natural or artificial. This does not include waters which are entirely confined and retained completely upon the property of a single individual, partnership or corporation unless such waters are used in interstate commerce.
(3) POLLUTION. The discharge of a pollutant or combination of pollutants. A pollutant includes but is not limited to dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions, chemical wastes, biological materials, radioactive materials, heat, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt and industrial, municipal and agricultural waste discharged into water. Pollutant does not mean (a) sewage from vessels; or (b) water, gas, or other material which is injected into a well to facilitate production of oil or gas, or water derived in association with oil or gas production and disposed of in a well, if the well used either to facilitate production or for disposal purposes is approved by authority of the state, and if the commission determines that such injection or disposal will not result in the degradation of ground or surface water resources.
(4) SEWAGE. Water-carried human wastes from residences, buildings, industrial establishments or other places, together with such ground, surface, storm or other waters as may be present.
(5) INDUSTRIAL WASTES. Liquid or other wastes resulting from any process of industry, manufacture, trade or business or from the development of natural resources.
(6) OTHER WASTES. All other substances, whether liquid, gaseous, or solid, or energy in the form of heat from all other sources including, but not limited to, any vessels or other conveyances traveling or using the waters of this state, except industrial wastes or sewage.
(7) PERSON. Any and all persons, natural or artificial, including, but not limited to, any individual, partnership, association, society, joint stock company, firm, company, corporation, institution, trust, other legal entity, business organization or any governmental entity and any successor, representative, responsible corporate officer, agent or agency of the foregoing.
(8) DISCHARGE. The addition, introduction, leaking, spilling or emitting of any sewage, industrial waste, pollutant or other wastes into waters of the state.
(9) DIRECTOR. The director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
(10) CHAIRMAN. The director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
(11) VICE-CHAIRMAN. The director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
(12) WATER IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
(13) ALABAMA WATER IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
Last modified: May 3, 2021