1358                             Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 749

other reason, the Commission, in the exercise of its discretion, should
determine that the water supply should be conserved, the consumers,
upon notice from said Commission, its agents or employees, or upon
notice published in one newspaper published in said county for one
insertion, shall comply with any order passed by said Commission to
conserve the water supply. Any violation of said order shall be a
misdemeanor punishable under Section 204U of this sub-title, and in
addition to the penalty prescribed the Commission may turn off said
water supply of any person violating said order at any time without
further notice. No private or semi-public water supply or sewerage
installation, intended for use of two or more buildings or premises,
shall be constructed in any sanitary district without the person, firm
or corporation doing the work having first obtained a permit from the
Commission and paid a reasonable charge therefor, and such plant
shall then be installed, maintained and operated under such rules
and regulations as the Commission may require or devise. The Com-
mission shall have full and complete jurisdiction over all fire hydrants
connected with its water system and no person, firm or corporation
shall operate, use or make connection with the same without the
written authority of the Commission, excepting that no restrictions
shall apply to any bona fide fire department in the discharge of its
duties. No person, firm or corporation shall tamper with, deface,
damage or obstruct any fire hydrant. Any violation of any of the
provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor punishable under
Section 204U of this sub-title.

204K. The Commission shall make such charge as it shall deter-
mine to be reasonable, for every water and sewer connection as
provided in this sub-title, based upon the width and surfacing of the
street, road, alley or right-of-way in which the connection is made;
provided, however, that the connection charge on either side of the
street, road, alley or right-of-way shall be uniform. All of the revenue
above actual cost derived from such charges shall be retained by the
Commission as a fund for repairs, replacements or any extraordinary
expense in the maintenance and operation of the water supply,
sewerage or drainage systems under its control.

204L. All sums collected by the Commission for benefits levied
against the property for water supply, sewerage or drainage con-
struction shall be set aside as a separate fund to be known and desig-
nated as the Metropolitan District Account. The Commission, in
order to determine the amount which it may deem necessary to be
levied under Section 204L shall deduct such amount as the Commis-
sion may estimate that it will be able to collect out of the benefits
theretofore levied by it but not yet paid, from the whole amount
necessary to be raised in any one year for interest and principal
payments on outstanding bonds, and the balance then remaining
to be raised shall be the amount to be certified to the County Com-
missioners of Charles County for collection by taxation as provided
by Section 204F.

204M. For the purpose of providing funds for maintenance, re-
pairing and operating its water supply, sewerage or drainage sys-
tems, and for its operation and other expenses, including proper
depreciation allowances, and for interest on, and the retirement of
bonds as specified in this sub-title, the Commission is hereby em-
powered to make a ready-to-serve charge on water and a charge for