A county water system, or a county water authority created by private act, may enter into an agreement with a municipal water system, a water utility district, an investor-owned water utility, or a county water and wastewater system treatment authority to permit that other entity to operate within its service area. A county water system or a county water authority shall establish a method by which the system’s or authority’s ratepayers may petition the system or authority to consider entering into an agreement pursuant to this section.