The Council shall provide, by ordinance, for the collection of all public utility charges made by the City. With respect to water, the City shall have all the power granted to cities by Act 178 of the Public Acts of 1939, as amended. When any person or persons, or any firm or corporation, shall fail or refuse to pay to the City any sums due on utility bills, the service or services upon which such delinquency exists shall be shut off or discontinued and suit may be instituted by the City for the collection of the same in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Purchasers of services other than property owners shall be responsible for payment of services received and the Council shall provide adequate ordinances to safeguard timely collection of all charges and discontinuance of service in cases of potential jeopardy.
Any sums due the City on utility bills shall be charged against the real property on which the service was rendered, and, if delinquent for a period of six (6) months or more, shall be spread on the next regular City tax roll, and shall become a lien of the same character and effect and collectible in the same manner as the lien created by state, county, and school district taxes, until paid.