1072                             Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 484

19-11.

Before any plumbing, water works, or sewer construction is done
in any building or upon any private property within any sanitary
district, the person, the firm or corporation doing the same shall
first obtain a permit from the [commission] Department and pay
therefor such reasonable sum as the [commission] Department may
prescribe. Such work shall be done under and pursuant to such rules,
regulations and requirements as the [commission] Department may
from time to time formulate, and subject to such inspection as it
may deem necessary. No connection of any kind shall be made with
any water main or sewer constructed or maintained by the [com-
mission] Department without a permit and under such conditions
as the [commission] Department may authorize. In order to prevent
waste of water the [commission] Department or its agents or em-
ployees shall have the right of entry at reasonable hours to all
buildings or premises connected with the water supply or sewerage
systems under its jurisdiction, and may, upon presenting proper
credentials from the [commission] Department, order and require
such changes in all plumbing, water works or water or sewer con-
nection as it may deem necessary to eliminate leakage, loss of water
or unnecessary or improper use of sewers. The [said commission]
Department shall exercise control of the water supply at all times,
and in case of a shortage of water, or if, for any other reason, the
[commission] Department, in the exercise of its discretion, should
determine that the water supply should be conserved, the consumers,
upon notice from [said commission] the Department, its agents or
employees, or upon notice published in one newspaper published in
said county for one insertion, shall comply with any order passed by
[said commission] the Department to conserve the water supply.
Any violation of said order shall be a misdemeanor punishable under
Section 19-22, and in addition to the penalty prescribed the [com-
mission] Department may turn off said water supply of any person
violating said order at any time without further notice. No private
or semi-public water supply or sewerage installation, intended for
use of two or more buildings or premises, shall be constructed in any
sanitary district without the person, firm or corporation doing the
work having first obtained a permit from the [commission] Depart-
ment and paid a reasonable charge therefor, and such plant shall
then be installed, maintained and operated under such rules and
regulations as the [commission] Department may require or devise.
The [commission] Department shall have full and complete juris-
diction over all fire hydrants connected with its water system and
no person, firm or corporation shall operate, use or make connection
with the same without written authority of the [commission] De-
partment, excepting that no restrictions shall apply to any bona fide
fire department in the discharge of its duties. No person, firm or
corporation shall tamper with, deface, damage or obstruct any fire
hydrant Any violation of any of the provisions of this section shall
be a misdemeanor punishable under Section 19-22.

19-12.

The [commission] Department shall make such charge as it shall
determine to be reasonable, for every water and sewer connection
as provided in this chapter, based upon the width of the street, road,
alley or right-of-way in which the connection is made; provided,