1190                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                        CH. 609

tion of this provision shall be a misdemeanor punishable under Sec-
tion 10A-21 of this subheading. The applicant for the construction or
extension of any such privately-owned system shall bear the reason-
able costs that the Commission may incur for the review and ap-
proval of any such plans and for the supervision by the Commission
of the maintenance and operation of such system. All construction and
operating records including cost records shall be filed with the Com-
mission, which shall be empowered at any time to take over said
system or part thereof or said water main, sewer, storm water drain,
water or sewerage treatment plant or connection with any of them in
the same manner as provided under Section 10A-3. Nothing in this
section impairs the rate making powers of the Public Service Com-
mission nor eliminates the requirements of the law for the approval
of the Department of Health in the construction and maintenance
of sanitary facilities. No private sewerage, water or drainage sys-
tems or extensions thereof authorized by this section shall be ap-
proved if the construction and operation of such system or systems
will cause water pollution endangering the water supply of any mu-
nicipality or other public agency or private utility corporation sup-
plying sanitary services in Frederick County. If a private system
approved under the authority hereof causes such pollution, then the
Commission is authorized to require such modifications as may be
necessary to eliminate such pollution and to take such other legal
steps as may be necessary to enforce its orders eliminating the nui-
sance of water pollution.

10A-13.

(a)  To provide for the general health and welfare of the residents
of Frederick County, the Commission may acquire, construct, op-
erate, and maintain such water, sewer, and drainage systems as it
deems to be in the public interest. The Commission may cause sur-
veys, plans, specifications, and estimates to be made for such sys-
tems. Unless all owners of land which will be served by any such
proposed improvements consent in writing to such improvements
being made, the Commission shall construct any such system or ex-
tension thereof only after a public hearing held jointly by the Com-
mission and the County Commissioners, after giving notice thereof
in two newspapers of general circulation published in Frederick
County at least seven days prior to the hearing. At the hearing,
plans and specifications for the proposed improvements shall be pre-
sented together with the estimated costs thereof and estimated rev-
enues to be derived therefrom. In any case where a public hearing
is required, the Commission shall conduct the hearing and may pro-
ceed with the proposed improvements only after the County Com-
missioners, by at least a majority vote following the public hearing,
have approved such proposal. The Commission may divide the sani-
tary district into water, sewerage, and drainage subdistricts in such
way as in its judgment will best serve the needs of the county, and
promote convenience and economy of installation and operation, and
permit the raising of revenues and apportionment of costs to those
served on an equitable basis, and it is empowered to keep its books
of account accordingly.

(b)  If the residents of any unincorporated locality in the sanitary
district make application for a water supply, sewerage, or drainage
system, or part thereof, to be constructed in their locality, the Com-
mission may require the applicants to bear the reasonable costs for