1. Safe area: Area categorized as SAFE from the groundwater resources point of view, based on the latest groundwater resources assessment carried out jointly by CGWB and State groundwater organizations.

2. Semi-critical area: Area categorized as SEMI-CRITICAL from the groundwater resources point of view, based on the latest groundwater resources assessment jointly by CGWB and State groundwater organizations. 

3. Critical area: Area categorized as CRITICAL from the groundwater resources point of view, based on the latest groundwater resources assessment carried out jointly by CGWB and State groundwater organizations. 

4. Over-exploited area: Area categorized as OVER-EXPLOITED from the groundwater resources point of view, based on the latest groundwater resources assessment carried out jointly by CGWB and State groundwater organizations. 

5. Aquifer: Geological formation capable of storing and transmitting ground water. 

6. Deeper Aquifer: In areas having multiple aquifer systems, the aquifer(s) occur below the uppermost aquifer. 

7. Well: Any structure used for groundwater extraction, including open wells, bore wells, dug-cum-bore wells, tube wells, filter points, collector wells, infiltration galleries, recharge wells, or any combinations or variations. 

8. Government Agency: Maybe a Central or State Government body. 

9. Supplier: Government/Government-approved Water Supply Agency. 

10. Mine: Area where mining activity occurs or area abandoned after mining. 

11. Illegal Ground Water abstraction Structure: Any energized abstraction structure viz. dug well, tubewell, borewell which is being used to withdraw groundwater without a valid No Objection Certificate from Central Ground Water Authority. 

12. Rainwater Harvesting: The technique or system of collecting and storing rainwater, at micro watershed scale, including roof-top harvesting, for future use or recharge groundwater. 

13. Mining Project: Project which involves either open cast, underground, or mining activities. 

14. Ground Water Draft: Quantum of groundwater withdrawal. 

15. Saline Water: Water having salinity in excess of 2500 µsiemens/cm at 250C.

16. Water Table Intersection: Intersection of the water table on the excavation of the overlying material due to mining or other activities. 

17. Drinking and domestic use: Besides drinking & domestic use of households, this category will cover drinking requirements of industries not requiring water for the industrial process; drinking, washing, cleaning use etc. in case of hospitals, hotels, malls & multiplexes, institutions, offices, banquet halls, fire stations, metro stations, railway stations, airports, sea ports, stadia etc. 

18. Recycle/Reuse: Using treated wastewater for various purposes/ putting water to multiple uses. 

19. Government Department: Either Central Government or State Government. 

20. Municipality: Municipality, a Municipal Corporation, or a similar body of local urban governance by any other name. 

21. Groundwater: Water, which exists below the surface in the zone of saturation and can be extracted through wells or any other means or emerges as springs and base flows in streams and rivers; 

22. BGL: Below Ground Level. 

23. BCM: Billion Cubic Metres.

24. Groundwater Abstraction structure: Structure used to withdraw groundwater like bore well/tube well / dug well/dug cum bore well/tunnel well. 

25. Observation well or Piezometer: A bore well/tube well is used only for measuring the water level/piezometric head and to take water samples periodically but is not used for groundwater abstraction. 

26. Water Audit: A method of quantifying water use in simple or complex systems to reduce water usage and often save money on otherwise unnecessary water use. 

27. Ground water pollution: If the concentration of any parameter in groundwater exceeds the maximum permissible limit for drinking water prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards. 

28. Cooperative Group Housing Societies/ Builder flats: A Housing Society is a society formed by house owners within a residential complex. The housing society formed must be formally registered with the registrar of co-operatives. 

29. KLD – Kilo Litre per day 

30. ECGW – Environmental compensation for drawing illegal groundwater. 

31. ECGWR – Environmental compensation rates for drawing illegal groundwater.