As used in sections 640.400 to 640.435, the following terms mean:

(1) “Aquifer”, a consolidated or unconsolidated subsurface water-bearing geologic formation, group of formations, or part of a formation, or other geologic deposits, capable of yielding a usable or potentially usable amount of water;

Terms Used In Missouri Laws 640.403

  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of the statutes, mean the section next preceding or next following that in which the reference is made, unless some other section is expressly designated in the reference. See Missouri Laws 1.020

(2) “Contaminant”, any physical, chemical, biological or radiological substance in water, including but not limited to, those substances for which maximum contaminant levels are established by the department pursuant to sections 640.400 to 640.435, this chapter and chapter 644;

(3) “Department”, the department of natural resources;

(4) “Groundwater”, water occurring beneath the surface of the ground, including underground watercourses, artesian basins, underground reservoirs and lakes, aquifers, other bodies of water located below the surface of the ground, and water in the saturated zone;

(5) “Maximum contaminant level”, the maximum permissible level established pursuant to this chapter of a contaminant in any water delivered to any user of a public water system;

(6) “Special water quality protection area”, a geographic area meeting specified criteria established after public hearing by the department;

(7) “Surface water”, water in lakes and wetlands, and water in rivers, streams and their tributaries in which water flows for substantial periods of the year;

(8) “Watershed”, the area that drains into a river, stream or its tributaries;

(9) “Water resources”, water in rivers, streams and their tributaries and water present in aquifers.