As used in this part, the term:

(1) ‘‘Authority’’ means the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority created by Code Section 50-23-3.

(2) ‘‘District’’ means the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District created by Code Section 12-5-572.

(3) ‘‘Emergency plan’’ means the written emergency water supply plan developed as provided in Code Section 12-5-202.

(4) ‘‘Essential water needs’’ means the minimum amount of water needed for residential and commercial means for food processing, drinking, toilet flushing, fire fighting, hospital use, and critical asset use and a portion of the system’s unaccounted for water.

(5) ‘‘Qualified system’’ means any public water system owned and operated by a city, county, or water authority in the district.