1278                             Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 743

Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That Section 545 of the Code of
Public Local Laws of Washington County (1957 Edition), being
Article 22 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Maryland, title "Wash-
ington County", sub-title "Sanitary Districts" as said Section was
enacted by Chapter 694 of the Laws of Maryland of 1957, be, and the
same is hereby, repealed and re-enacted with amendments to read as
follows:

545. [Ready to serve charge on water; upkeep of sewers.] Sewer
Service Charges.

[For the purpose of providing for maintenance, repairing and
operating its water supply, sewerage or drainage systems, and for
its operation and other expenses, including proper depreciation al-
lowances, and for interest on, and the retirement of bonds as specified
in this sub-title, the Commission is hereby empowered to make a
ready-to-serve charge on water and a charge for the upkeep of
sewers chargeable against all properties having a connection with
any water pipe or sewer pipe under its supervision or ownership.
Said rate for both ready-to-serve and such charge for the upkeep on
sewers shall be uniform throughout such sanitary district, subject to
such changes from time to time as may be necessary. The charge
for the upkeep on sewers shall be reasonable and collected annually
in the same manner as benefit assessments are collected and shall be
a first lien against all property having a connection with any sewer
pipe under its supervision or ownership. The rates for water service
shall consist of a minimum or ready-to-serve charge, which shall be
based upon the size of the meter on the water connection leading to
the property, and of a charge for water used, which shall be based
upon the amount of water passing through the meter during the
period between the last two readings, said meter being required to
be placed on each water connection by and at the sole expense of the
Commission. If the Commission at any time shall not have meters
available to install in all the properties in a given locality that are
connected to the system, then a flat rate shall be charged all properties
in which meters have not yet been installed, which rate shall be
uniform in each sanitary district and based upon the amount of
water used. Bills for the amount of the charges as above specified
shall be sent quarterly or semi-annually as the Commission may de-
termine, to each property served, and shall be thereon payable at
the office of the Commission; and if any bill remains unpaid after
thirty days from date of sending, the Commission shall, after writ-
ten notice left upon the premises or mailed to the last known address
of the owner, turn off water from the property in question, and the
water shall not be turned on again until said bill shall have been
paid, including a penalty of Two Dollars ($2.00). If any bill shall
remain unpaid for sixty days after being sent by the Commission, it
shall be collectible from the owner of the property served in the same
manner as other debts are collectible in the municipality and said
ready-to-serve charge, other service charges and all penalties shall
be a first lien against said property.]

The District is hereby authorized and empowered to fix and collect,
and from time to time revise, alter or amend schedules of rates or
charges for sewage collected and disposed of by the District through
any sewerage system in a sub-district owned or operated by the Dis-
trict. Said rates or charges shall be known as sewer service charges
and, as in the case of water rates or charges, all properties connected