Maryland § 9-708

§ 9-708.

    (a)    A municipal authority shall:

        (1)    Construct and provide at its own expense for any water main or sanitary sewer constructed or established under Part II of this subtitle, a water service pipe or sewer connection that extends from the water main or sewer to the property line of each lot that abuts on a street or right-of-way in which the water main or sewer is laid; and

        (2)    When the municipal authority declares that a water main or sewer is complete and ready for use, notify each owner of abutting property that the owner shall:

            (i)    Connect all spigots or hydrants, toilets, and waste drains with the water main or sewer, within a reasonable time as determined by the municipal authority; and

            (ii)    Install adequate spigots or hydrants, toilets and waste drains if:

                1.    There are no fixtures or drains; or

                2.    The municipal authority believes that the existing fixtures or drains are improper or inadequate.

    (b)    To prevent any use of or any injury to the public health, each owner of property that is connected with a sewer shall abandon, close, and leave, in the manner that the municipal authority directs, any:

        (1)    Cesspool;

        (2)    Drain;

        (3)    Privy; or

        (4)    Well that is determined by the municipal authority to be polluted or a menace to health.

    (c)    (1)    After notice from the municipal authority, if a property owner in Frederick County fails to comply with the provisions of this section, the municipal authority may:

            (i)    Have any necessary connections made;

            (ii)    Cause any cesspool, drains, or privy to be closed and abandoned; and

            (iii)    Charge the property owner with the cost of the connection or closing or both.

        (2)    For purposes of this subsection, the costs:

            (i)    Are a lien against the affected property until paid; and

            (ii)    May be collected in the same manner as county or municipal taxes.