Section 23

If any person entitled to a supply of water under any agreement under section 21 makes default in payment of any sum payable by him under the agreement, the Board may discontinue the supply of water by severing or disconnecting any pipe (whether or not belonging to or under the control or management of the Board) or other work through which water is supplied and may, until any sum payable under the agreement together with the expenses incurred by the Board in so discontinuing the supply are fully paid, discontinue the supply of water to that person.

The Board shall not be liable for any loss or damage caused to any person by such discontinuance of the supply of water to the person or to pay compensation in connection therewith.

If, in the opinion of the Board, any person is responsible for the misuse or waste of any water supplied by the Board, the Board may give notice in writing to that person calling upon him to cause the misuse or waste to be discontinued within a period to be specified in the notice and if the misuse or waste continues after the expiry of that period, the Board may discontinue the supply of water to that person by severing or disconnecting the service pipe or by such other means as it thinks fit.

If, at any time after the supply of water to any premises has been discontinued by the Board under this section, it is found that the supply has been reinstated without the authority of the Board and that water is being used by any person on the premises, the occupier of the premises shall be deemed, until the contrary is proved, to have authorised such user and shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 and to a further fine not exceeding $250 for every day during which the offence continues after conviction.

Any employee of the Board duly authorised for the purpose of subsection (4) may at all reasonable times enter any premises to which water is or has been supplied by the Board in order to examine and if necessary repair, renew or replace the pipes, meters, fittings, works or apparatus for the supply of water belonging to or which are supplied from mains belonging to the Board and for the purpose of ascertaining the quantity of water consumed or supplied or, when the Board is authorised to discontinue the supply of water from any premises, for the purpose of removing any pipe, fitting, work or apparatus belonging to the Board and repairing any damage caused by such entry, inspection or removal.

Where the Board has discontinued the supply of water to any premises under subsection (3) or in consequence of any default on the part of a consumer, the Board may resume the supply within a reasonable time if the consumer in default —