All of the powers now or hereafter conferred upon municipalities by the laws of the state for the operation of a water system, and all powers and duties of the city pertaining to the construction, acquisition, establishment, improvement, operation, management, maintenance, and repair of the municipal water system, and the determination of all matters of policy with respect thereto, are vested in and shall be exercised by the water board. The water board shall have full and exclusive jurisdiction of the exercise and discharge of such municipal powers so conferred upon it, independent of control by the council and the city manager. The city council shall upon request of the water board enact such ordinances, enter such orders, and adopt such resolutions as may be required by law in connection with the issuance of any water works revenue bonds, the acquisition by purchase or condemnation of any property needed for the proper operation of the water department, or the transaction of any other business of the water board.
In addition to the general powers mentioned in the preceding paragraph, and without any limitation upon such powers, the water board subject to provisions of general law shall have the following authority and shall perform the following duties:
(1) Fix, regulate and change rates and charges for water supplied to all consumers; adopt and prescribe reasonable rules and regulations which shall be observed by all consumers in reference to the use and consumption of water taken from the city mains, the terms and conditions upon which connection to the mains shall be permitted, and the place and manner of making the same; fix penalties by way of additional charges for failure to pay water bills promptly, and to this end the board may discontinue the supply of water to any consumer who fails to pay for the same as required; require all users of water for temporary purposes to pay for the privilege in advance; refuse to furnish water to any building or habitation unless the owner thereof shall assume liability for the payment of the charges for the water so furnished, and charge to and collect from the owner the cost of water furnished to any tenant or occupant of such building or habitation not paid for by the tenant or occupant; charge the cost of installing water service lines from the curb line to the main against the landowner, and require payment in advance for installing and connecting such line with the water main. The powers of the water board to fix and charge rates for water and water service and to make rules and regulations governing the supply of such water and water service shall be subject to the supervision, regulation and control of the Public Service Commission of the state to the extent and in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by general law.
(2) Whenever the city council shall determine to pave or repave any street in the city, the water board is authorized to make a proper connection and lay a water service line from the main to the curb for each and every lot or for any part of a lot under separate ownership, although no water service may, at any time be necessary or required for any such lot or part of lot, and to charge the cost of making such connection and laying such water service line against the owner of the property. The cost of laying such water service lines and making such connections shall in every instance be a lien upon the lot or part of lot to be benefitted thereby, and the water board shall have the right, in the name of the city, to institute and prosecute any proper suit in the circuit court of Harrison County for the collection of such charges by a sale of the property on which the same constitutes a lien. Whenever the council decides to pave or repave any street, it shall be the duty of the water board to lay necessary water mains and service lines as soon as may be practicable in order not to delay the paving program. In order to coordinate the making of such improvements it shall be the duty of both the council and the water board to cooperate with each other in making plans for such improvements or repairs, and to keep each other informed concerning future needs and plans.
(3) The board shall have power from time to time to repair, extend and amplify the water works plant and system, and to make such additions to the pumping station, filtration plant and water mains and lines as may at any time be deemed necessary for the proper operation of the system.
(4) The water board shall require the general manager to examine the sources of water supply for the city and to report to the board from time to time whether the waters are being polluted. The water board may, in the name of the city, institute and prosecute in any court having jurisdiction any legal action, civil or criminal, necessary to enjoin any person, firm or corporation from continuing any nuisance caused by such pollution or to prohibit the violation of any city ordinance or of any provision of general law concerning pollution or concerning the protection of the city water supply.
(5) Whenever the city shall in the manner prescribed by law provide for the imposition of a sewage service charge based on the consumption of water upon the customers of the water department, it shall be the duty of the water board to add the charge to the water bills and collect the same. All sewage charges collected by the water board shall be accounted for monthly and paid into the operating fund of the sanitary board. The sanitary board shall pay any additional cost incurred by the water board in the collection of sewage charges.