Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 24, § 3601 (2026)

§ 3601. Definitions

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Board” means the board of sewage system commissioners.

(2) “Domestic sewage” or “house sewage” means sanitary sewage derived principally from dwellings, business buildings, and institutions.

(3) “Industrial wastes” or “trade wastes” means liquid wastes from industrial processes, including suspended solids.

(4) “Necessity” means a reasonable need that considers the greatest public good and the least inconvenience and expense to the condemning party and to the property owner. Necessity shall not be measured merely by expense or convenience to the condemning party. Due consideration shall be given to the adequacy of other property and locations; to the quantity, kind, and extent of property that may be taken or rendered unfit for use by the proposed taking; to the probable term of unfitness for use of the property; to the effect of construction upon scenic and recreational values, upon home and homestead rights and the convenience of the owner of the land; to the effect upon town grand list and revenues.

(5) “Sanitary sewage” means used water supply commonly containing human excrement.

(6) “Sanitary treatment” means an approved method of treatment of solids and bacteria in sewage before final discharge.

(7) “Sewage” means the used water supply of a community, including such used water supply or stormwater as may or may not be mixed with these liquid wastes from the community.

(8) “Sewage system” means any equipment, stormwater control system, pipeline system, and facilities as are needed for and appurtenant to the treatment or disposal of sewage and waters, including a sewage treatment or disposal plant and separate pipelines and structural or nonstructural facilities as are needed for and appurtenant to the treatment or disposal of storm, surface, and subsurface waters.

(9) The phrase “sewage treatment or disposal plant” includes, for the purposes of this chapter, any plant, equipment, system, and facilities, whether structural or nonstructural, as are necessary for and appurtenant to the treatment or disposal by approved sanitary methods of domestic sewage, garbage, industrial wastes, stormwater, or surface water.

(10) “Stormwater” has the same meaning as “stormwater runoff” under 10 V.S.A. § 1264.

(11) “Stormwater management system” means any structure, or improvement, whether structural or nonstructural, necessary for collecting, containing, controlling, treating, or conveying stormwater, including sewers, curbs, drains, conduits, natural and man-made channels, settling ponds, pipes, and culverts. (1963, No. 214, § 1; amended 2001, No. 109 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. May 16, 2002; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 13, eff. July 1, 2024.)