1198                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                       CH. 609

water sewerage and drainage systems and the operation and main-
tenance thereof and for the purchase of equipment and supplies
necessary to the operation of the Commission. Connection charges
shall he established from time to time by the Commission subject
to the approval of the County Commissioners. Such charges may be
based upon such reasonable classifications as the Commissioners may
determine and such classifications may vary within any water, sewer,
or drainage system and among any such systems depending on any
special circumstances which the Commission finds exist. The charges
herein provided shall not be limited to the costs to the Commission for
making such connections. The Commission is empowered to deter-
mine the manner in which such charges shall be payable.

For the purpose of providing funds for maintaining, repairing,
and operating its water supply, sewerage, or drainage systems, and
for its operation and other expenses, including property depreciation
allowances, and for interest on and the retirements of bonds as speci-
fied in this subtitle, the Commission may make the following charges:

(1)  A water and sewer service charge. The rates for water and
sewer service shall consist of a minimum or ready-to-serve charge
which shall be based upon the size of the meter on the water con-
nection 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. The meter shall 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 construction and upkeep of drainage water
and sewer systems against all properties benefited by such drainage
system or having a connection with any water main or sewer under
its operation or ownership. The charge for the construction and
upkeep of the drainage system and the water and sewer system, if
any, shall be made upon such reasonable basis as the Commission
may determine and shall be collected annually in the same manner
as are front foot benefit assessments against all property benefited

10A19. 21.