MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                1779

which shall be based upon the amount of water passing
though the meter during the period between the last two
readings, [said] A meter being required to be placed on
each water connection by and at the sole expense of the
commission. If the commission at any time [shall] DOES
not have meters available to install in all the
properties in a given locality char are connected to the
system, then a flat rate shall be charged all properties
in which meters have not yet been installed, which rate
shall be uniform in each sanitary district and based upon
the amount of water used. Bills for the amount of the
charges as above specified shall be sent quarterly or
semiannually, as the commission may determine, to each
property served, and shall be [thereupon] payable at the
office of the commission; and if any bill remains unpaid
after [thirty] 30 days from date of sending, the
commission shall, after written notice left upon the
premises or mailed to the last known address of the
owner, turn off water from the property in question, and
the water [shall] MAY not be turned on again until [said]
THE bill [shall have] HAS been paid, including a penalty
of [five dollars ($5.00)] $5. If any bill [shall remain]
REMAINS unpaid for [sixty] 60 days after being sent by
the commission, it shall be collectible, together with a
penalty of [$5.00] $5, from the owner of the property
served in the same manner, and subject to the same
interest, as taxes are collectible in the county or
counties in which the sanitary district or sanitary
districts lie and [said] THE ready-to—serve charge, other
service charges and all penalties shall be a first lien
against [said] THE property. The sewer service charge
and solid waste disposal charge shall be made on whatever
reasonable basis the commission selects and may be
collected on an annual, semiannual or quarterly basis.
Neither the dates of collection nor the intervals between
[such] THE dates need be uniform throughout a sanitary
district. If any bill for [such] sewer service charge or
solid waste disposal charge remains unpaid for [sixty] 60
days after being sent by the commission, it shall be
collectible from the owner of the property served in the
same manner, TOGETHER WITH A PENALTY OF $5, and subject
to the same interest, as taxes are collectible in the
county or counties in which the sanitary district or
sanitary districts lie, and shall be a first lien against
[said] THE property.]]

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Section 663A be and it is hereby added
to Article 43 — Health, of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1971 Replacement Volume and 1975 Supplement), to read as
follows:

Article 43 - Health

663A.

IN WORCESTER COUNTY, ANY STATE, COUNTY, OR MUNICIPAL
AGENCY WHICH PROVIDES SEWER SERVICE AND SOLID WASTE