1472                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 706

be required to be placed on each water connection by and at the
sole expense of the Commission, and it shall remain the property of
the Commission. Such rates shall be uniform throughout each such
system operated by the Commission but the Commission may make
such classifications as it deems advisable within any such system
based upon quantities of water used. 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 on properties in which meters have not yet been installed,
which rate shall be uniform in each sanitary system and based upon
the ready-to-serve charge and the amount of water used. Bills for
water and sewer charges shall be sent quarterly or semiannually as
the Commission may determine to each property served and shall be
payable at the office of the Commission or such other place as the
Commission may designate. Such charges shall be a lien upon the
property served and collectible as elsewhere herein provided. If
any bill remains unpaid after thirty (30) days from date of sending,
the Commission, after written notice left upon the premises or mailed
to the last known address of the owner, shall turn off the water from
the property in question; and the water shall not be turned on again
until said bill has been paid, including a penalty of three dollars
($3.00).

(2) A charge for the upkeep of water and sewer systems against
all properties having a connection with any water main or sewer
under its operation or ownership. The charge for the upkeep of the
water and sewer system, if any, shall be made upon such reasonable
basis as the Commission may determine and shall be collected an-
nually in the same manner as are front foot benefit assessments
against all property having a connection within a water main or
sewer under the operation or ownership of the Commission and shall
be a lien against such property. Such charges shall be based upon
such classifications as the Commission from time to time may estab-
lish and shall be uniform throughout each sanitary system within
each such classification; provided, however, that no charge for the
upkeep of water and sewer systems shall be made against any prop-
erty in any year for which such property is currently subject to a
front foot benefit assessment as elsewhere in this subtitle provided.

424. Charges; due dates, collection, interest.

Front foot benefit assessments, water and sewer system upkeep
charges, connection charges, and other charges which the Commis-
sion is empowered to make shall be liens upon the property served
or benefited and, in addition to being enforced by actions at law, may
be enforced by a bill in equity against the property so served or
benefited. The liens shall be subject only to liens for State and
county taxes. Such charges shall be due when made and after sixty
(60) days from that date shall bear interest at the rate of one-half
per centum (½%) per month. Neither the due dates nor the interval
between such dates need be uniform throughout the sanitary district.

425. Penalties.

Every act or omission designated as a misdemeanor in this subtitle
unless otherwise provided, shall be punishable by any trial magistrate
or the Circuit Court of Harford County, and the offender, upon con-