Power to cut off water supply

(1) The competent authority may cut off the water supply from any premises - (a) if any fee, rental, cost of water or any charge or other sum due under this Act is not paid by the consumer within the period of fifteen days after receipt of a written notice from the competent authority; (b) if after the receipt of a written notice from the competent authority requiring him to refrain from using water in such manner, the consumer continues to use the water or permits the same to be used in contravention of the provisions of this Act or any rule made thereunder; or (c) if the consumer damages or causes to be damaged the water meter or any connection pipe or ferrule; or (d) if the consumer refuses to admit any officer, or his employee, of the Government duly authorised by the competent authority in this behalf, into the premises which he proposes to enter for the purposes of executing any work or placing or removing any apparatus or of making any examination or inquiry in connection with the water supply or prevents any officer, or his employee, from executing any work or placing or removing any apparatus or making such other examination or inquiry; or (e) if the service pipe or any tap or other fitting or work connected therewith is, in the opinion of the officer of the Government duly authorised in this behalf or by his employee, found to be out of repair to such an extent as to cause wastage of water and immediate prevention thereof is necessary; or (f) if the consumer causes or allows to be caused the service pipe or any tap or other fitting or work connected therewith to be placed, removed, repaired or otherwise interfered with in contravention of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder; or (g) if by reason of leakage in the service pipe or any tap or other fitting or work, damage is caused to any public or private property and immediate prevention thereof is necessary. (2) No action taken under sub-section (1) shall relieve the person from any penalty or liability which he may have otherwise incurred under the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder. (3) The competent authority may order reconnection of supply of water disconnected under sub-section (1) on payment of such charges and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed. Provided that the competent authority may withdraw such supply at any time if it considers necessary so to do in order to maintain sufficient supply of water for domestic purposes.