Section 2. Powers of the Water & Sewer Authority

The authority shall have the power to establish bylaws and to promulgate and adopt rules and regulations necessary or desirable for the management and operation of the authority.

Section 23. Purpose of the authority.

(a) Without limiting the generality of any provision of this act, the general purpose of the authority is declared to be that of acquiring an adequate source or sources of water supply, treatment of such water, and thereafter the distribution of the same to the various municipalities and citizens in Hart County and environs, including adjoining counties and municipalities located therein, and further for the general purpose of gathering and treatment of waste, both individual and industrial; but such general purpose shall not restrict the authority from selling and delivering water directly to consumers in those areas where water distribution systems do not now exist or furnishing sewer facilities to such customers, and areas where neither any county, municipality, or public authority deems it desirable or feasible to furnish water or sewerage services in such locality.

(b) The authority shall have the authority, where it deems it feasible, to sell its products and services to customers, governmental agencies or governmental instrumentalities of adjoining states, providing the laws of the adjoining states do not prohibit or tax said activity.

(c) The authority shall not have the authority to construct water lines for the distribution of water directly to customers within any municipality without first obtaining the express written consent of the appropriate governing bodies of said municipality, and likewise, the authority shall not have the authority to construct sewer lines for the collection of waste and sewage directly to customers within any municipality without first obtaining the express written consent of the appropriate governing body of said municipality.