Loaded spring no longer operative (4-3)
I believe the answer is:
well-off
'loaded' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'spring no longer operative' is the wordplay.
'spring' becomes 'well' (both can mean a source of water).
'no longer operative' becomes 'off' (switched off).
'well'+'off'='WELL-OFF'
(Other definitions for well-off that I've seen before include "Quite wealthy" , "Financially comfortable" , "Rich; fortunate" , "Affluent" , "Fairly rich" .)