N.Y. Second Class Cities Law § 94: Water works

§ 94. Water works. In case the city owns and operates a system of

municipal water works, the commissioner of public works shall appoint,

to hold office during his pleasure, a superintendent of water works, who

shall have, under the direction of the commissioner, the supervision,

care, management and control of the water department and water-works

system of the city. It shall be the duty of the commissioner of public

works to see that the city has an abundant supply of pure and wholesome

water for public and private use; to devise plans and sources of water

supply; to plan and supervise the construction, maintenance and

extension of the water system and the distribution of water throughout

the city; to protect it from contamination; to prescribe rules and

regulations for its use, which, when ratified and approved by the common

council, shall have the same force and effect as city ordinances. He

shall have power, with the assent of the board of estimate and

apportionment, to establish rates of rents to be charged and paid

annually for the supply of water or for the benefits resulting

therefrom, to be called water rents, which shall be apportioned to the

different classes of buildings in the city in reference to their

dimensions and the ordinary uses of water for the same, and to different

lots, as may be practicable, and from time to time to modify and amend,

increase or diminish such rates and to extend them to other descriptions

of buildings, lots, establishments and uses. He shall also have power,

with like assent, to establish rates for the use of water in buildings,

establishments, trades and other purposes in or for which water is

consumed beyond the quantity required for ordinary purposes, and may

require the same paid to him in advance, at the rates thus established,

before permission to use such extra quantity of water shall be given.