§ 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.