Chapter VIII Chapter VIII

Provision of water. (1) The committee may, and when the State Government so directs shall, provide the area under its control or any part thereof with a supply of wholesome water sufficient for public and domestic purposes. (2) For the purpose of providing such supply within the municipality the committee shall cause such tanks, reservoirs, engines, pipes, taps, and other works as may be necessary to be constructed or maintained, whether within or without the municipality; and shall erect sufficient stand pipes or other conveniences for the gratuitous supply of water to the public. (3) When required by the Medical Officer of Health, the committee shall arrange for the examination of water supplied for human consumption for the purpose of determining whether the water is wholesome.

Supply of water to connected premises. (1) The committee may, on application by the owner of any building arrange for supplying water from the nearest main to the same for domestic purposes in such quantities as it deems reasonable, and may at any time limit the amount of water to be so supplied whenever it considers it necessary. (2) No additional charge shall be payable in respect of such supply in any municipality in which a water tax is levied, but for water supplied in excess of the quantity to which such supply is under sub-section (1) limited, and in other municipalities for all water supplied under this section payment shall be made at such rate as may be fixed by the committee with the approval of the State Government. Explanation.- A supply of water for domestic purposes shall not be deemed to include a supply- (a) for animals or for washing vehicles where such animals or vehicles are kept for sale or hire, (b) for any trade, manufacture or business, (c) for fountains, swimming baths, or for any ornamental or mechanical purpose, (d) for gardens or for purposes of irrigation, (e) for watering roads and paths, (f) for building purposes.

(1) The committee may supply water for any purpose other than a domestic purpose, on receiving a written application specifying the purpose for which such supply is required and the quantity likely to be consumed. (2) For all water supplied under sub-section (1) payment shall be made at a rate not less than the rate prescribed under sub-section (2) of Section 97. (3) The committee may withdraw such supply at any time if it should appear necessary to do so in order to maintain a sufficient supply of water for domestic purposes.

Making connections with municipal water works. (1) Where an application under Section 97 or Section 98 has been received, all necessary communication pipes and fittings shall be supplied by the committee and the work of laying and applying such communication pipes and fittings shall be executed by municipal agency under the committee’s order ; but the cost of making any such connection and of all communication pipes and fittings so supplied and of all works so executed, shall be paid by the owner or the person making such application. The committee may either provide a meter and charge rent for the same or may require the owner or applicant to provide a meter of such size, material and description as it shall approve. (2) Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (1) the committee may require any owner or person applying for a supply of water to provide all communication pipes and fittings and to carry out at his own cost under its supervision and inspection all the work of laying and applying such communication pipes and fittings.

Obligation of owner or occupier to give notice of waste of water. Any owner or occupier of any building or land, in or on which water supplied under this Act is misused from negligence or other circumstances under his control, or used without permission in excess of the quantity fixed under Section 97 or Section 98, or in which the pipes mains or other works are out of repair to such an extent as to cause waste of water shall if he has knowledge thereof, be bound to give notice of the same to such officer as the committee may appoint in this behalf.

If any person whose premises are supplied with water, neglects to pay the water-tax, or any sum payable under Section 97 or Section 98 when due, or to give notice as provided in the last proceeding section, or wilfully or negligently misuses or causes waste of water, the committee may cut off the supply of water from the said premises.

For the purpose of providing or maintaining the water supply or of making or maintaining communications or connections with the mains, or generally for the purposes of this chapter, the committee shall have all powers which are conferred upon it in respect of drainage and the supply of gas by Sections 132 to 140.