Public Health Act 1936

127 Power to charge by meter for supply to certain premises and for certain purposes.

(1) The Minister, on an application made to him by a local authority who are supplying water under this Act for domestic purposes, may fix a maximum charge per thousand gallons for a supply of water by meter, subject to the right of the authority to make such, minimum charge, if any, as he may fix, and, where a maximum charge has been so fixed, the provisions of the two next succeeding subsections shall have effect.

(2) The local authority may require that all water supplied by them to—

(a) any premises used as a house whereof a part is used by the same occupier for any business, trade or manufacturing purpose for which water is required;

(b) any public institution;

(c) any hospital, sanatorium, school, club, hostel, assembly hall, place of public entertainment, restaurant, hotel, or licensed premises, within the meaning of that expression as used in the Licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910; or

(d) any boarding-house capable of accommodating twelve or more persons, including the persons usually resident therein,

shall be taken by meter.

(3) If a person who takes a supply of water for domestic purposes from the local authority otherwise than by meter desires to use any of the water so supplied for operating—

(a) a water-cooled refrigerating apparatus;

(b) any apparatus depending while in use upon a supply of continuously running water; or

(c) any apparatus used for softening water which requires water for cleaning, regenerating, motive power or similar purposes,

the authority may require that all water so used shall be taken by meter:

Provided that nothing in this subsection shall apply to an apparatus used for softening water, if one such apparatus only is used, and the water softened thereby can be drawn off into a receptacle at one point only and is used solely for domestic purposes.

(4) A local authority who propose to make an application to the Minister under this section shall give notice of their proposal in such manner and to such persons, if any, as the Minister may direct, and the Minister shall not decide the application before the expiration of one month from the giving of the notice, and before giving his decision shall take into consideration any representations which may have been received by him.