Here is a Rural Glossary of Definitions separated into sections related to:
- Water Supply
- Water Paid For Desc
- Registered Water Rights
- Sewer/Septic
- Heating Fuel Description
- Phone Description
- Power Service
Water Supply
WS1 - Bored Wells
Bored wells are large diameter holes (usually 45-90 cm) bored into the ground to access groundwater, then lined with a casing.
WS2 - Water Cisterns
Cisterns are reservoirs used to accumulate and store large volumes of water for future use. They may be above or below ground and located inside or outside.
WS3 - Water Cooperatives
Water cooperatives are enterprises that are owned and managed by the cooperatives’ members, and they have been created to distribute water to their residential or rural properties.
WS4 – Creek
Water supply is taken from natural creeks.
WS5 - Drilled Wells
Drilled wells are small diameter holes (usually ranging from 10-20 cm) drilled deep into the ground to access better quality water aquifers.
WS7 - Dugouts
Earthen excavations constructed to collect and store water.
WS8 – Hand Pump
A hand operated mechanical pump to extract water from shallow and/or deep wells.
WS9 – Lake
A large body of naturally occurring water, surrounded by land.
WS10 – Municipal
A low pressure water distribution system offered by the municipality.
WS11 - None WS12 – River
A large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream.
WS14 – Shared
One or more property owners sharing a common or single water well/water source.
WS15 – Spring/Natural Source
Springs occur when water pressure causes a natural flow of groundwater on to the surface of the land.
WS16 – Unknown WS18 – See Remarks WS19 – Well Pit
A well that was constructed below ground level in a confined space. Pump and water pipes are located below the surface, so that the pumps and water pipes do not freeze.
WS20 – Abandoned Water Well
A well that is no longer being used or maintained for future use.
Water Paid for Desc
AMORT
An agreement made between a property owner and a service provider for the repayment of the cost of the water system infrastructure through equal payments over a designated period of time consisting of both principal and interest. A caveat may be placed on title to secure debt until paid in full.
LEASE
An agreement made between a property owner and a service provider to lease the water system infrastructure over a specified period of time at a specified price.
NONE
No water system is available on the property.
NOTPD
The cost for the water system infrastructure has NOT been paid in full and remains owing.
PAID
The cost for the water system infrastructure has been paid in full.
Registered Water Rights
A water license, issued under Alberta’s Water Act, which allows property owners to use or divert ground or surface water for a parcel of land as specified in the license.
Sewer/Septic
SS1 – Chemical Toilet
A toilet which uses chemical, electrical or composting methods to deodorize the waste instead of storing it in a hole or piping it away to a sewage treatment plant.
SS2 – Gravity
Gravity drains effluent from the septic tank either on to the surface or into a series of trenches. No electricity or pumps are utilized in this type of system.
SS3 – Holding Tank
Also referred to as pump-outs, holding tanks are containers for storing sewage. Sewage is then removed by a mobile unit that takes the sewage to a treatment facility.
SS4 – Lagoon
Sewage from the residence flows directly into a lagoon, where settling and evaporation function as the treatment method.
SS5 – Low Pressure Sewage Sys
A low pressure sewage system consists of a two compartment septic tank, where the effluent is pumped into a low pressure municipal sewer line for transport to a regional treatment facility and the solids are removed periodically by truck.
SS6 – Septic Tank & Mound
Effluent is pumped from the two compartment septic tank system into a specifically constructed mound for treatment, soil absorption and evaporation.
SS7 – Municipal/Community
Property’s septic system is joined to a municipal/community septic system, directly from house.
SS8 – None SS11 – Outhouse
A small structure, separate from a main building.
SS13 – Septic Tank & Field
Effluent is pumped from the two compartment septic tank system to a buried disposal field for treatment, soil absorption and evaporation. The disposal field consists of a distribution system of weeping tile.
SS14 – Tank & Straight Discharge
Effluent is pumped from the septic tank on to the ground surface for treatment, soil absorption and evaporation.
SS15 – See Remarks
SS16 – Aerobic Treatment Plant
Aerobic Treatment Plants are self -contained septic systems that break down and treat both the solids and effluent through aerobic methods.
Heating Fuel Description
AMORT
An agreement made between a property owner and a service provider for the repayment of the cost of the heating fuel system infrastructure/equipment through equal payments over a designated period of time consisting of both principal and interest. A caveat may be placed on title to secure debt until paid in full.
LEASE
An agreement made between property owner and a service provider to lease the heating fuel equipment over a specified period of time at a specified price.
NONE
No heating fuel system infrastructure/equipment has been installed on the property.
NOTPD
The cost for the heating fuel system infrastructure has NOT been paid in full and remains owing.
PAID
The cost for the heating fuel system infrastructure has been paid in full.
Phone Description
AMORT
An agreement made between a property owner and a service provider for the repayment of the cost of the telephone system infrastructure through equal payments over a designated period of time consisting of both principal and interest. A caveat may be placed on title to secure debt until paid in full.
MULTI
The property is serviced by more than one telephone line.
NONE
No telephone system infrastructure has been installed on the property.
NOTPD
The cost for the telephone system infrastructure has NOT been paid in full and remains owing.
PAID
The cost for the telephone system infrastructure has been paid in full.
Power Service
PS1 – Amortized
An agreement made between a property owner and a service provider for the repayment of the cost of the power system infrastructure through equal payments over a designated period of time consisting of both principal and interest. A caveat may be placed on title to secure debt until paid in full.
PS2 – None
The cost for the power system infrastructure has NOT been paid in full and remains owing.
PS3 – Not Paid For
The cost for the power system infrastructure has NOT been paid in full and remains owing.
PS4 – See Remarks PS5 – Paid For
The cost for the power system infrastructure has been paid in full.
PS6 – Private System
The property has a private power generation system (ie. Solar, generator or wind) OR the property is connected to a privately owned power supply company.
PS7 – Public System
The power supply for the property is obtained from a public retail power company.
PS8 – Single Phase
A single wire electrical system servicing the property.
PS9 – Three Phase
A multi-line (3) wire electrical system serving the property.