{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143-215.22g","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-215.22G","heading":"Definitions.","body":"In addition to the definitions set forth in G.S. 143-212 and G.S. 143-213, the following definitions apply to this Part.\n(1)\t\"Mainstem\" means that portion of a river having the same name as a river basin defined in subdivision (1b) of this section. \"Mainstem\" does not include named or unnamed tributaries.\n(1a)\t\"Public water system\" means any unit of local government or large community water system subject to the requirements of G.S. 143-355(l).\n(1b)\t\"River basin\" means any of the following river basins designated on the map entitled \"Major River Basins and Sub-basins in North Carolina\" and filed in the Office of the Secretary of State on 16 April 1991. The term \"river basin\" includes any portion of the river basin that extends into another state. Any area outside North Carolina that is not included in one of the river basins listed in this subdivision comprises a separate river basin.\na.\t1-1\tBroad River.\nb.\t2-1\tRepealed by Session Laws 2025-77, s. 2(b), effective July 9, 2025.\nc.\t2-2\tRepealed by Session Laws 2025-77, s. 2(b), effective July 9, 2025.\nd.\t2-3\tCape Fear River, which includes Haw River (2-1) and Deep River (2-2).\ne.\t2-4\tSouth River.\nf.\t2-5\tNortheast Cape Fear River.\ng.\t2-6\tNew River.\nh.\t3-1\tCatawba River.\ni.\t3-2\tSouth Fork Catawba River.\nj.\t4-1\tChowan River.\nk.\t4-2\tMeherrin River.\nl.\t5-1\tNolichucky River.\nm.\t5-2\tFrench Broad River.\nn.\t5-3\tPigeon River.\no.\t6-1\tHiwassee River.\np.\t7-1\tLittle Tennessee River.\nq.\t7-2\tTuskasegee (Tuckasegee) River.\nr.\t8-1\tSavannah River.\ns.\t9-1\tLumber River.\nt.\t9-2\tBig Shoe Heel Creek.\nu.\t9-3\tWaccamaw River.\nv.\t9-4\tShallotte River.\nw.\t10-1\tNeuse River, which includes Contentnea Creek (10-2).\nx.\t10-2\tRepealed by Session Laws 2025-77, s. 2(b), effective July 9, 2025.\ny.\t10-3\tTrent River.\nz.\t11-1\tNew River.\naa.\t12-1\tAlbemarle Sound.\nbb.\t13-1\tOcoee River.\ncc.\t14-1\tRoanoke River.\ndd.\t15-1\tTar River.\nee.\t15-2\tFishing Creek.\nff.\t15-3\tPamlico River and Sound.\ngg.\t16-1\tWatauga River.\nhh.\t17-1\tWhite Oak River.\nii.\t18-1\tYadkin (Yadkin-Pee Dee) River.\njj.\t18-2\tSouth Yadkin River.\nkk.\t18-3\tUwharrie River.\nll.\t18-4\tRocky River.\n(2)\t\"Surface water\" means any of the waters of the State located on the land surface that are not derived by pumping from groundwater.\n(3)\t\"Transfer\" means the withdrawal, diversion, or pumping of surface water from one river basin and discharge of all or any part of the water in a river basin different from the origin. However, notwithstanding the basin definitions in G.S. 143-215.22G(1b), the following are not transfers under this Part:\na.\tThe discharge of water upstream from the point where it is withdrawn.\nb.\tThe discharge of water downstream from the point where it is withdrawn. (1991, c. 712, s. 1; 1993, c. 348, s. 1; 1997-443, s. 15.48(b); 2013-388, s. 1; 2025-77, s. 2(b).)","path":["Chapter 143. State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions","Article 21. Water and Air Resources.","Part 2A. Registration of Water Withdrawals and Transfers; Regulation of Surface Water Transfers."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_143/GS_143-215.22G.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T18:22:33Z","sha256":"9a096b4a962bf05a90b49ad734f67f7a2e55a1aedc58d06ea02df85fda293e90","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143-215.22c-through-143-215.22f","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143-215.22h"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}