55Water rates

55 Water rates

(1)  The undertakers may levy a water rate upon the annual value of all tenements supplied with water.

(2)  *[Section 55 Subsection (2) amended by No. 54 of 1963, s. 11 ]**[Section 55 Subsection (2) amended by No. 30 of 1995, s. 3 and Sched. 1 ]*Water rates levied under this Act shall, subject to subsections (3) , (4) , and (5) of this section, be made, levied, and recovered in the same manner as rates made and levied under the Local Government Act 1993 .

(3)  Water rates shall be paid in advance or otherwise and quarterly, half-yearly, or yearly, as determined by the undertakers; and the first payment shall be made at the time when the undertakers' pipe by which the water is to be supplied is laid to the boundary of the ratable tenement and charged with water.

(4)  *[Section 55 Subsection (4) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 ]*Where the ratable tenement is a dwelling-house or part of a dwelling of an annual value less than one hundred dollars and occupied by a tenant for years or at will the water rate shall be payable by the person entitled to receive the rent thereof: Provided that where the tenancy was created before the commencement of this Act or provided that the tenant shall be liable to pay water rates, the person entitled to receive the rent may recover from the tenant as rent any rate paid by him under this section.

(5)  Where the supply of water is commenced or discontinued during any period as provided in subsection (3) of this section a proportionate part only of the water rate shall be payable: Provided that where the supply is discontinued otherwise than by default of the undertakers, the rate shall be payable in respect of the whole period unless notice of the discontinuance was given during the preceding period.