Glossary of Terms
Below are definitions to many terms used by the branch. If they do not address your query, you may call (08) 9420-2099 between 8:00am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Adjacent Land
Land abutting the proponent's development or property.
Asset Creation
The combination of project management effort and asset acquisition activities that culminate in the delivery of planned additions to, or enhancements of, the Corporation's asset infrastructure.
Automated Meter Reading
A meter reading which is collected at a "remote" location via a technology channel, i.e. it does not require someone to physically read the meter.
Back to Top
Bank Guarantee
A method of providing a security (bonding) that is acceptable to the Corporation, to cover incomplete works at the time of subdivision.
Beneficiary Lot
A lot that acquires water supply or wastewater service availability, as a result of an extension of the reticulation, or a change in the service supply boundary, without the owner having paid, or been deemed to have paid, Headworks Contributions.
Building Stage
The stage at which an applicant requires building plan approval and may apply for connection (or upgrade) to a Water Corporation service.
Building Stage - Headworks Contributions
The monetary contributions required at building stage for water supply, wastewater and drainage services based on the demand imposed on the headworks system.
Building Strata
A multi-unit development which is defined by cubic space and managed by a corporate body.
Back to Top
Capital Asset
An asset which provides an economic benefit to the Corporation over an extended period of time. Guidelines are provided to distinguish between expenditure on capital assets and non-capital assets.
Capital Expenditure
Typically refers to expenditure, exceeding $5000, incurred in the creation of new capital assets. It also applies to expenditure on activities that increase or extend the economic benefit attainable from existing capital assets.
Capital Investment Planning System
The Corporation's computer system used to store planning information required to support capital investment planning.
Capital Investment
The provision of funding to allow the undertaking of capital works.
Capital Works
Any activity which results in the acquisition of a capital asset, and/or improves the economic benefit generated by the asset.
Capitalisation of Interest
An accounting procedure whereby interest is calculated on the annual capital expenditure and added to the capital cost of a project rather than being charged to the Profit and Loss statement as an annual expense. In the Corporation this approach applies to projects extending over more than one year with an estimated total cost exceeding $ 5M. The capitalisation of interest costs can only occur in years when the Corporation borrows funds externally to finance the Capital Investment Program.
Cash Guarantee
A method of bonding that is acceptable to the Corporation to cover uncompleted works at the time of subdivision. In this instance the developer provides a cash cheque to the Corporation which is reimbursed once the works have been completed satisfactorily.
Catchment Area
An area of land drained by a particular waterway or drainage system, or serviced by a particular wastewater system.
Caveat
A warning to a person searching the original Certificate of Title that there is a claim lodged, on the Title to the land, which may prohibit the Registrar of Titles from registering a dealing upon that Title.
Community Service Obligations (CSO)
See Operating Subsidy
Connecting Link
The length of reticulation from the end of existing system to the commencement of the proponent's land holding
Declared Drainage Area
The area contained within the boundary to the catchment of a Water Corporation main urban drain.
Deferred Headworks Contributions
The process of allowing a developer to defer payment of headworks contributions via the arrangement of suitable security.
Deferred Liability
The Corporation's obligation to reimburse a developer, at some negotiated future date, for any agreed expansion of the Corporation's infrastructure that is pre-funded by the developer.
Deferred Water Service Connection
A water service for connection to newly created lots fronting a reticulation water main that existed prior to the creation of the lots which has been left in abeyance until requested by the owner.
Deferred Water Service Connection Fee
A payment that is made to the Water Corporation for water connections to newly created lots fronting a reticulation water main that existed prior to the creation of the lots.
Developed Area
See Fully Serviced Areas
Developer
An owner, individual, partnership, company, joint venture, government agency, or some combination of these producing a block of land suitable for housing or other buildings or who submits, or enquires about an application for a new or revised connection to a Water Corporation water, wastewater or drainage service. The developer liaises with and pays servicing authorities and government agencies to have the necessary facilities in place.
Developer Contribution
The combination of monetary and asset contributions provided by developers in order to meet the Water Corporation's development servicing conditions.
Development
The proposal to subdivide a land parcel or to improve an existing land parcel by connecting a water service, constructing buildings, paving, driveways and the like.
Differential Headworks Contribution
A concept for matching the developers headworks contribution more specifically to the costs of providing the headworks assets to serve that development.
Difficult Supply
Those parts of a Water Supply Area - Water Scheme designated by the Water Corporation as areas which can only be adequately served in isolation from other parts of the scheme by the provision of an elevated storage with special pumping equipment or a localised pressure system. (A locality which is served entirely from an elevated storage is not classified as a difficult supply area).
Disconnection (of a service)
The removal of a property's connection to the servicing infrastructure (i.e. as the servicing infrastructure is still available, the property is still liable to be rated).
Discontinue (a service)
The removal of the ability for a property to be serviced (i.e. the servicing infrastructure would be de-commissioned and/or removed so that a service would not be available to that property and rates and charges would not apply).
D.U.R.E.
See Dwelling Unit Reticulation Equivalent
Dwelling Unit Reticulation Equivalent
The monetary contribution, per dwelling unit developed, deemed appropriate by the Water Corporation to proportionately contribute to the notional cost of the wastewater reticulation for a wastewater area, for example the Kalamunda Sewerage District.
Dwelling Unit
A self contained unit forming part of all residential accommodation (with the exception of the single residence and any ancillary accommodation associated with it), located on a single land holding or lot. This term includes all grouped or multiple dwellings such as duplex, triplex, quadruplex, home unit, multiplex unit, villa house, row house, patio house, terrace house, town house, retirement village complexes, etc.
Easement
An acquired right or privilege held by a person or public Corporation to make specific use of land owned privately or by another Corporation.
Encumbrance
A lodged or registered interest in land by a person who is not the registered proprietor. Examples are mortgages, lease agreements, caveats and easements.
Existing unserviced community
In general, it is a group of similarly sized and zoned lots which have been allowed to develop without the provision of a reticulated water supply. It should be:
- A definable 'cell' which has been approved for development without the condition of providing a reticulated water supply
- An existing settlement remote from the currently serviced area
- A group of lots with a predominance of similar land use
- Not subject to a current, all encompassing application for further development
- Have community wide need or support
The actual zoning of the group of lots (i.e. special rural, residential, industrial etc.) will not exclude the area from consideration.
Existing unserviced lot
An existing lot without the provision of a reticulated water supply.
Farmlands
Land within a country water area that is used, or primarily used, for agricultural, pastoral, grazing or dairying purposes or any combination of them. This term does not include land that is used, or primarily used, for the purposes of a market garden, orchard, piggery or poultry farm or any combination of those purposes.
Fire Service
A service provided exclusively for the purpose of supplying water for fire fighting and the necessary testing of fire fighting equipment.
Fixed Charges / Fees
Standard fees associated with land development, e.g. building inspection fees, plumbing inspection fees, fire and water service connections, service relocations, etc.
Flow Control Device (FCD)
A device that is fitted to a water service to limit the flow of water through the service to a predetermined amount, regardless of the pressure in the water main.
Frontal Areas
Areas that require only the extension of reticulation for development to proceed. All other situations are to be treated as fully serviced, non-frontal or pioneer.
Fully Serviced Areas
Areas where land is already correctly zoned and in which the subject lot is able to be connected through a standard water, wastewater , or drainage service by way of construction of private works.
Geocentric Datum of Australia (GDA)
The Geocentric Datum of Australia (GDA) is a new Earth-centred geodetic datum on which all future Australian mapping and surveying products will be developed. GDA is consistent with the international World Geodetic System (WGS) standard and Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies. In 1988 the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM) decided that Australia would move to this new coordinate system. The Western Australian State Cabinet subsequently decided that all State Government agencies should effectively adopt GDA by 4 December 2000.
Headworks : General
The assets infrastructure that provides water, wastewater and drainage services, excluding reticulation and private plumbing, to the State, e.g. dams, wastewater treatment plants, main drains, etc. For uniformity, this should be referred to as "MAJOR WORKS"
Headworks Contributions
The monetary contributions paid by developers or beneficiary lot owners towards major works.
Headworks: Water
Dams, catchment, water supply bores, water treatment plants, service reservoirs, elevated storage and pumping equipment, and supply and trunk distribution mains not classified as reticulation.
Headworks: Drainage
Pumping stations, main drains, compensating basins, branch drains. Drainage includes main drains in the metropolitan area and rural drains that may traverse country towns and which local Corporation drains discharge.
Headworks: WasteWater
Treatment and disposal facilities, pumping stations, rising mains, and main sewers not classified as reticulation.
Homestead Lot
A homestead lot subdivision enables the subdivision of a single house lot from a small rural holding which has been rezoned for urban development, in a situation where the owner wants to retain his home but is prepared to sell the balance of the holding to a developer for development as urban lots.
Industrial Purposes
Industrial Purposes means (within the context of this document and By-laws) the purposes for which water is required in or about premises that are occupied, or used, for manufacturing or processing, and the water is used as an essential commodity in such manufacturing or processing.
Industrial Waste
The liquid, solid, or gaseous refuse from any business, industry, warehouse or manufacturing premises other than domestic sewage, stormwater or unpolluted water.
Infill Lots
Lots that become able to be served by water supply or wastewater reticulation works that are constructed by subdivision, mains extension or other infill works. Also See: Beneficiary Lots
Infill Sewerage Programme
The Government initiative for the provision of reticulated wastewater to residential land, in either metropolitan or country areas, where septic systems represent an increasing threat to public water supplies, public health, the environment and constrain urban development.
Inspection Shaft
An access shaft on the property connection for the locating, accessing and clearing both the property connection and the property sewer.
Interim Works
Are works the Corporation plans to construct in lieu of permanent headworks because the permanent works are considered premature due to their value or size, or because the permanent location is either unavailable, inaccessible or currently impractical to use.
Internal Reticulation
Reticulation which services only the proponent's subdivision development. All other internal facilities are considered private works.
Kalamunda Sewerage District
An area that is subject to special contributions and provisions such that developers are able to share the high cost of constructing sewers in the district.
Land Indebtedness
The total liability on a parcel of land including rates, easements, covenants, debts owing for contributions to works completed, restrictions on land use, etc.
Letter of Undertaking
A method of bonding that is acceptable to the Corporation to cover incomplete works at the time of subdivision. This method of bonding is only extended to State Government departments that are solely government owned.
Lot Amalgamation
The consolidation of two or more lots into one lot. The process of amalgamation is considered under the same rules as for subdivision.
Mains Extension
An extension of water and/or wastewater reticulation to service existing lots.
Major Consumer
Those consumers outside the metropolitan area who have a peak day water demand of 50kl or more. Applies generally to mining companies.
Major Fixtures
As defined under the Water Corporation Act - Water Corporation Charges By-laws, major fixtures means:
- a water closet;
- each urinal outlet contained within a floor mounted urinal;
- each stand of wall-hung urinals contained within a separate ablution area;
- a pan washer
Major Works
Also referred to by the Water Corporation as "Headworks". Is the assets infrastructure that provides water, wastewater and drainage services, excluding reticulation and private plumbing, to the State, e.g. dams, wastewater treatment plants, main drains, etc.
MapGDA
The Moving Australia Project (MapGDA) was established for the purpose of implementing the GDA standard within the Corporation.
Master Meter
Measures all consumption for the property, including common areas (eg. gardens). The master meter is installed at the front property boundary.
MEAV (Modern Equivalent Asset Value)
The current replacement value of the Corporation's state wide headworks assets based on the use of current technologies. This figure is used in calculating the current SHC.
Memorial Over Land
A notation placed on a Certificate of Title to affect rights set out in legislation. This is a method of bonding that is acceptable to the Corporation to cover deferred obligations. The memorial must be a registered first mortgage on a readily saleable parcel of either vacant or improved land.
Minor Works
Also referred to as "Reticulation" in the Water Corporation and excludes private plumbing.
MUST (Minimise Use of Septic Tanks)
A Water Corporation scheme to abolish septic tanks throughout the State because of the threat they present to the environment and public health by polluting groundwater supplies.
New Works
Work commencing and incurring capital expenditure in the current financial year or a specified future year. This term can be used at the programme/sub-programme level, or with a single project.
Nominal Flow Rate
The instantaneous flow rate of a water service nominated by the applicant as representing the estimated maximum demand that the development utilising the service would place on the supply system.
Non-Frontal Areas
Areas that are appropriately zoned, adjacent to the development front, but require new headworks or the upgrade of existing headworks.
Non-Frontal Developments
A development that cannot be served either by the existing headworks infrastructure or by an extension of reticulation from the immediate adjacent area.
Non-Residential
All aspects of use, of a property related primarily to some form of commercial enterprise, for which facilities are required to service a building or buildings on a single site.
Non-Standard Water Services
Services provided which do not meet corporate standards or services to properties which do not front a rated main. Non-standard services are not encouraged by the Water Corporation and must not be approved except in special circumstances.
Notional Sewerage Reticulation Design
The notional wastewater design prepared by, and amended from time to time by, the Water Corporation in accordance with the requirements of the Corporation's Sewerage Design Manual. This design is deemed by the Water Corporation to provide the most efficient reticulation design for the overall sewer catchment area.
Operating Subsidy
An activity which is either not commercially viable, or an activity which is not core business but is provided by the Corporation, at the request of Government, e.g. provision of the infill sewerage programme.
Owner
Refers to Strata Company, individual strata lot owners, single Owners or their agents.
Partial Property Sewer Connection
Where a property is only capable of being partially served by sewer due to some restriction existing on the lot. For example, the land topography prevents the lot from being fully served, or where it may be too costly to connect an existing development to sewer from a septic tank.
Peak Instantaneous Flow Rate
The flow rate required to service a property at the time of peak usage of water. This is expressed as a nominal flow rate in litres per minute.
Permanent Works
Constructed works that will not be replaced by other works.
Pioneer Locations
The situation where a new water supply, wastewater scheme or drainage network needs to be constructed to solely meet the needs of a development which is located outside the existing planned orderly servicing strategy.
Pre-Funding
The funds provided by developers to enable the Corporation to advance the timing of the headworks expansion work needed to service a non-frontal development. A pre-funding agreement essentially constitutes an interest-free loan, and gives rise to a deferred liability.
Purchased Peak Flow Rate
The flow rate of water through a meter, expressed in litres per minute, required at the time of peak usage of water.
Pre-Laid Water Service
A water connection laid concurrently with the construction of the reticulation. Such services are installed dormant and made live only on application for water connection by the customer.
Private Works (Private Plumbing)
The servicing components which begin at the connection point on the boundary of the property or lot being served, and are contained within the property boundary.
Project Management
The directing and coordinating of human, plant and material resources throughout the life of the project, with the use of modern management techniques, to achieve predetermined objectives. The life of a project in project management runs from activation through close-out. Refer to the Corporation's Project Management Guidelines for further information.
Property Sewer
A conduit laid, wholly or partly at the expense of the property owner, entirely within the boundaries of the lot, for the carriage of sewage or wastewater to any Water Corporation sewer.
Refund
The act of returning previously received money to the customer.
Reimbursement
To pay back to a developer money already spent on behalf of the Water Corporation.
Reserve
Land that is set aside for public use. Reserves include general public open space, nature reserves, tree reserves, parks, public gardens, recreation reserves, sporting reserves, drainage reserves and wastewater reserves.
Residential
Self contained living accommodation which can include hotels, motels, or serviced apartments but does not include long term hospice care units, nursing homes or hospitals.
Reticulation
Reticulation are those works which connect Major Works to Private Works. For uniformity they should be referred to as "MINOR WORKS".
Rural means:
- Those areas of land where broadacre cropping and grazing are undertaken. These areas may also include large scale intensive production enterprises such as poultry farming ,orchards, feedlots for livestock, dairying, viticulture and aquaculture, or
- Characteristic of, or pertaining to the country (as distinct from the city and towns) as in the rural area or rural landscape. or pertaining to agriculture as in rural economy, or
- the act of living in the county as in rural living.
Rural-Residential
Land used for residential purposes in a rural setting which provides for alternative residential lifestyles and which seeks to preserve the rural and/or landscape amenity of such areas and control land use impacts.
Additional scheme provisions for areas zoned "Rural Residential" are that:
- the lot size should range from 1 to 4 hectares depending local conditions and
- mandatory provision of a reticulated potable water supply to an appropriate standard as determined by the licence holder.
Rural-SmallHolding
Land used for minor rural pursuits, hobby farms, conservation lots and alternative residential life style purposes where part-time income from cottage industries, home occupation and use of the land for agriculture may be derived. This land use may also seek to preserve and enhance landscape quality, environmental and conservation attributes.
Additional scheme provisions for areas zoned "Rural Smallholding" are that:
- lot sizes are to range from 4 to 40 hectares or more depending on local conditions:*
- the provision of an adequate sustainable potable water supply for domestic use; and
- the provision of a separate water supply for land management and fire fighting purposes.
(*individual local government should determine the size depending upon local conditions and long term environmental sustainability for conservation theme lots).
Scheme
Usually referring to an area larger than a single town such as a cluster of towns and nearby farmland. A scheme will generally be a small set of integrated facilities for water supply.
Self Contained
Any dwelling that has the majority of those water related facilities required for a Class 1 building under the Building Code of Australia. Refer also to A1.3.3.
Sewage Discharge
The volume of wastewater discharged by a development during the course of a daily operation. The rate of discharge will be compared to the SHC such that one SHC is equivalent to 540 litres per day.
Sewer
A conduit laid for the carriage of sewage or wastewater. This term does not include a property sewer.
SHC
See Standard Headworks Contribution.
Single Residential Equivalent (SRE)
Single Residential Equivalent (SRE) is the basic measure of demand placed on Water Corporation systems by a single residence in a developed urban locality.
Site Specific Reticulation
Wastewater reticulation which is required additional to the Notional Wastewater Design as a consequence of a development.
Special Developer Contribution Areas
Areas for which a special contribution arrangement has been determined. These areas may relate to local conditions and requirements, and to non-frontal situations and distant development locations.
Special Rural
Those lots set aside for "rural-residential" purposes ranging in size from 2000 m2 to 4Ha. Such lots should be provided with a reticulated water supply if considered in reasonable proximity to a supply source.
Specialised Agricultural Use
A single agricultural land that has particular physical characteristics and resource requirements and which utilises a particular management system that differentiates it from other agricultural land uses eg apple orchard, mango orchard, table grape vineyard, strawberry farm, potato farm.
Standard Infrastructure Contribution (SIC)
Is a financial contribution to the Water Corporation by a person for present and future costs of infrastructure necessitated by the expected increase in demand for water services apportioned to a single residence, in a developed urban locality.
Standard Water Connection
A 20mm metered service.
Strata Plan
Also known as a building strata, this type of plan requires a building to be shown on the plan. Boundaries of the strata lot defined by reference to either a building or the boundary of the land which comprises the whole of the strata scheme. "Chalk-line Stratas" are stratas created within a building (single or multi storey) where the internal divisions are no more than a chalk line on a concrete floor. A chalk-line strata is really a subdivision of strata plan prior to the completion of the building.
Strata Schemes
Strata Schemes are controlled under the Strata Titles Act, and generally consist of the division of a single lot into sub or component parts. Some examples are:
- Multi-storey buildings for residential or office use.
- Division of group housing into component dwelling units.
- Division of shopping centres, warehouse/ showroom/ factory unit developments into component parts.
- Division of land into vacant strata lots with private roads and service infrastructure.
Subdivision Stage - Headworks Contributions
Contributions payable when subdividing land, including creating survey strata lots, or constructing new developments which will require the provision of Water Corporation services whether for residential, industrial, commercial or active recreation purposes.
Subdivision
The process by which the legal surveyed boundaries of a land parcel are to be amended. For example; creation of two or more lots from a single lot, amalgamations and boundary changes. In this context, lots may include vacant strata or Torrens title.
Sub-Meters
Sub-meters measure the consumption of an individual unit within a multiple unit complex. Sub-meters can only be directly connected to internal pipe work from a master meter (i.e. no sub-meters on sub-meters).
Survey Strata Plan
A survey strata plan has no building shown on it, although buildings may exist. Boundaries of lots are defined by dimensions from a ground survey with limited or unlimited height. The balance of the land above and below the survey strata lot is common property. Common property is marked as lots with letters "CP".
Sustainable Agriculture
The use of farming practices and systems which seek over the long-term to maintain or enchance:
Economic viability;
- The on-farm natural resource base; and
- Ecosystems which are influenced by agricultural activity.
Takeover Asset
An asset constructed under the control of others but later acquired by the Corporation at no cost. An example is water and sewer reticulation work in new subdivisions.
Tankering
The removal of wastewater by a method of cartage. Generally a temporary solution to wastewater removal pending the commissioning of permanent outfall infrastructure.
Temporary Asset
Any asset that does not comply with planned Water Corporation scheme requirements but is acceptable to the Corporation in lieu of the permanent works, following a request from the developer.
Temporary Water Connection
Any connection that is considered to have a life not exceeding 24 months, after which time it will be upgraded to permanent and all appropriate fees, charges and contributions paid OR water is to be permanently disconnected.
Temporary Works
Are works that do not comply with planned Corporation scheme requirements, but following a request from the developer, the Corporation may accept them in lieu of the interim or permanent works.
Torrens Title Lot
The normal form of Certificate of Title of a land parcel, also commonly known as "Green Title" due to its green border. Such a Title may contain more than one cadastral lot, but there can never be more than one Title per lot.
Town Water Supply
The water supply scheme which supplies a country town.
Unplanned Demands
This term refers to the situation where, within an identified planning precinct, a project is proposed that would generate demands inconsistent with the zoning or above the normal annual growth rate as determined by the planning processes of the
Water Corporation.
Urban
Land under a Town Planning Scheme that has been shown as set aside for purposes relating to an urban environment. Such an area may contain different levels of zoning such as residential, multi-residential, commercial, or recreation. In the Metropolitan Region Scheme, urban land is coloured brown.
Urban Drain
Defined in the Water Corporation's Operating Licence
"Vacant Lot" Strata Plans
Newly created lots that are wholly unimproved apart from having merged improvements within the meaning of that expression in the Valuation of Land Act 1978. That is, the subdivision of a lot into strata titled lots with at least one strata lot containing an existing structure and other lots being vacant land.
Vacuum Sewerage
A mechanised system of wastewater transport. Unlike gravity flow, it uses differential air pressure to move the wastewater. It requires a central source of power to run vacuum pumps which maintain vacuum on the collection system.
Water Connection
The process or ability of a customer to connect to a Water Corporation water supply.
Work(s) in Progress
Work incurring capital expenditure either in the current financial year, or a future financial year, for a project which commenced in an earlier year. This expression can be used at the programme/sub-programme level, or with a single project.
