How water rates are set and collected

The board of water supply may fix and adjust rates and charges for the furnishing of water and for water service; provided no rates or charges shall be fixed or adjusted prior to the holding by the board of a public hearing, public notice of which shall be given not less than twenty days before the date of the public hearing and the notice shall set forth the time, place of the hearing, and the proposed rates and charges to be considered thereat. The board may collect and by appropriate means, including the discontinuance of service to delinquent consumers, or commencement of civil action in the name of the board, enforce the collection of the rates and charges; and adjust and settle all complaints, claims, and accounts of consumers or the public. All water furnished to the county or any department thereof or to the State or any department thereof shall be charged to the respective departments and shall be payable to the board by the respective departments at the rates and times established by the board, and, upon failure of the departments to make payment when payment is due, then the auditor of the county and the comptroller of the department of accounting and general services of the State shall pay from the account of the department or departments all delinquencies as certified by the chairperson of the board.