2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 51 - Virginia Water and Waste Authorities Act › § 15.2-5138. Enforcement of charges

Any resolution or trust agreement providing for the issuance of revenue bonds under the provisions of this chapter may include any of the following provisions, and may require the authority to adopt such resolutions or to take such other lawful action as is necessary to effectuate such provisions. The authority may adopt such resolutions and take such other actions as follows:
1. Require the owner, tenant or occupant of each lot or parcel of land who is obligated to pay rates, fees or charges for the use of or for the services furnished by any system acquired or constructed by the authority under the provisions of this chapter to make a reasonable deposit with the authority in advance to insure the payment of such rates, fees or charges and to be subject to application to the payment thereof if delinquent.
2. If any rates, fees or charges for the use of and for the services furnished by any system acquired or constructed by the authority under the provisions of this chapter are not paid within thirty days after due, the authority may at the expiration of such thirty-day period disconnect the premises from the water or sewer system, or otherwise suspend services and proceed to recover the amount of any such delinquent rates, fees or charges, with interest, in a civil action.
3. If any rates, fees or charges for the use and services of any sewer system acquired or constructed by the authority under the provisions of this chapter are not paid within thirty days after they become due, require that the owner, tenant or occupant of such premises cease disposing of sewage or industrial wastes originating from or on such premises by discharge directly or indirectly into the sewer system until such rates, fees or charges, with interest, are paid. If such owner, tenant or occupant does not cease such disposal at the expiration of the thirty-day period, the authority may require any political subdivision, district, private corporation, board, body or person supplying water to or selling water for use on such premises to cease supplying water to or selling water for use on such premises within five days after the receipt of notice of such delinquency from the authority. If such political subdivision, district, private corporation, board, body or person does not, at the expiration of such five-day period, cease supplying water to or selling water for use on such premises, then the authority may shut off the supply of water to such premises.
The water supply to or for any person, or for use on real estate of any person, shall not be shut off or stopped under this section if the State Health Commissioner, upon application of the local board of health or health officer of the locality in which such water is supplied or such real estate is located, has found and certifies to the authorities charged with the responsibility of ceasing to supply or sell such water, or to shut off the supply of such water, that ceasing to supply or shutting off such water supply will endanger the health of such person and the health of others in the locality.
Code 1950, § 15-764.24; 1950, p. 1326; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-1262; 1997, c. 587.