J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                        527

410.

(b) No private or public water supply or sewerage installation
intended for use of two or more buildings or premises shall be
constructed, nor shall any existing system be extended in the sanitary
district unless the person, firm, or corporation doing the work has
first obtained a permit from the Commission and paid a reasonable
charge therefor. The plant then shall 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 may operate, use, or make con-
nection with the system without the written authority of the Com-
mission, except that no restriction shall apply to any bona fide fire
department in the discharge of its duties. Outside the bounds of
incorporated towns the Commission, upon a determination that public
safety will be served, may require the installation of fire hydrants
to public or private systems existing or to be constructed, and may
prescribe such rules and regulations for the use and maintenance
thereof as it deems necessary. The Commission is authorized to
enter into any agreements with the owners or operators of such
systems designed to install fire hydrants or other fire protection
equipment as may be deemed in the public interest. No person, firm,
or corporation may tamper with, deface, damage, or obstruct any
fire hydrant. A violation of any of the provisions of this section is
a misdemeanor, punishable under Section 425 of this subtitle.

415.

Whenever the plans and specifications for water supply, sewerage,
or drainage systems or extensions thereof shall have been completed
and the Commission has decided to proceed with construction, it
shall, when required by this subtitle, by notice in one newspaper
published in the county and such newspapers and technical press as
it may deem proper, advertise for bids for the construction of the
system or systems, in part or as a whole, as in its judgment may
appear advisable. The contract shall be let to the lowest responsible
bidder, or the Commission may reject any or all bids; and, if in
its discretion the prices quoted are unreasonable or unbalanced, it
may readvertise the work or any part of it or may do any part or
all of the work by day labor; provided that at any time the Com-
mission, in its discretion, may expend by day labor for construction
an amount not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) without
advertising and receiving bids. All such contracts shall be protected
by such bonds, penalties, and conditions as the Commission may
require, all of which shall be enforced in any court having jurisdic-
tion. Nothing in this section shall preclude the Commission from
performing any work with its own employees and/or equipment.

417.

(a) To provide for the general health and welfare of the residents
of Harford County, the Commission may acquire, construct, operate,
and maintain such water, sewer, and drainage systems as it deems
to be in the public interest. The Commission may cause surveys,
plans, specifications, and estimates to be made for such systems.
Unless all owners of land which will be served by any such proposed
improvements consent in writing to such improvements being made,