1442                             Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 782

under such conditions as the Commission may authorize. In order to
prevent waste of water the Commission or its agents or employees
shall have the right of entry at reasonable hours to all buildings or
premises connected with the water supply or sewerage systems under
its jurisdiction, and may, upon presenting proper credentials from
the Commission, order and require such changes in all plumbing,
water works or water or sewer connection as it may deem necessary
to eliminate leakage, loss of water or unnecessary or improper use
of sewers. The said Commission shall exercise control of the water
supply at all times, and in case of a shortage of water, or if, for any
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 601 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 Commission 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 dis-
charge 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 punish-
able under Section 601 of this sub-title.

593. The Commission shall make such charge as it shall determine
to be reasonable, not less than the actual cost thereof, for every water
and sewer connection as provided in this sub-title, based upon the
width of the street, road, alley or right-of-way in which the connec-
tion 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.

594. 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
designated as the District Account. The Commission, in order to
determine the amount which it may deem necessary to be levied under
Section 590 shall deduct such amount as the Commission may esti-
mate 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