§16-13A-1c. General purpose of districts.

Any territory constituting the whole or any part of one or more counties in the state so situated that the construction or acquisition by purchase or otherwise and the maintenance, operation, improvement and extension of, properties supplying water, sewerage or stormwater services or gas distribution services or all of these within such territory, will be conducive to the preservation of the public health, comfort and convenience of such area, may be constituted a public service district under and in the manner provided by this article. The words "public service properties," when used in this article, shall mean and include any facility used or to be used for or in connection with: (1) The diversion, development, pumping, impounding, treatment, storage, distribution or furnishing of water to or for the public for industrial, public, private or other uses (herein sometimes referred to as "water facilities"); (2) the collection, treatment, purification or disposal of liquid or solid wastes, sewage or industrial wastes (herein sometimes referred to as "sewer facilities" or "landfills"); (3) the distribution or the furnishing of natural gas to the public for industrial, public, private or other uses (herein sometimes referred to as "gas utilities or gas system"); or (4) the collection, control or disposal of stormwater (herein sometimes referred to as "stormwater system" or "stormwater systems"), or (5) the management, operation, maintenance and control of stormwater and stormwater systems (herein sometimes referred to as "stormwater management program" or "stormwater management programs"). As used in this article "stormwater system" or "stormwater systems" means a stormwater system in its entirety or any integral part thereof used to collect, control or dispose of stormwater, and includes all facilities, structures and natural water courses used for collecting and conducting stormwater to, through and from drainage areas to the points of final outlet including, but not limited to, any and all of the following: Inlets, conduits, outlets, channels, ponds, drainage easements, water quality facilities, catch basins, ditches, streams, gulches, flumes, culverts, siphons, retention or detention basins, dams, floodwalls, pipes, flood control systems, levies and pumping stations: Provided, That the term "stormwater system" or "stormwater systems" does not include highways, road and drainage easements, or stormwater facilities constructed, owned or operated by the West Virginia Division of Highways. As used in this article "stormwater management program" or "stormwater management programs" means those activities associated with the management, operation, maintenance and control of stormwater and stormwater systems, and includes, but is not limited to, public education, stormwater and surface runoff water quality improvement, mapping, planning, flood control, inspection, enforcement and any other activities required by state and federal law: Provided, however, That the term "stormwater management program" or "stormwater management programs" does not include those activities associated with the management, operation, maintenance and control of highways, road and drainage easements, or stormwater facilities constructed, owned or operated by the West Virginia Division of Highways without the express agreement of the commissioner of highways.