1. The governing body of any municipality or any water commission representing two or more municipalities may fix an annual standby or ready-to-serve service charge upon any unoccupied lot abutting upon a street wherein a water main has been laid and to which the lot may connect.

No service charge shall be made for any lot fronting on a water main which has heretofore been assessed as a local improvement or for which the owners of the lot paid under a contract with the municipality.

No service charge shall include the imposition of standby fees or charges for any fire protection system to a residential customer served by a water service line of two inches or less in diameter.

The service charge shall be rendered and collected in the same manner as other bills for water service are rendered and collected.

Nothing in this section shall preclude the governing body of a municipality or a water commission representing two or more municipalities from requiring separate dedicated service lines for fire protection. The municipal governing body or water commission may require that fire service lines be metered. Nothing in this section shall alter the liability for maintenance and repair of service lines which exists on the effective date of P.L.2003, c.278.

L.1949,c.194,s.1; amended 2003, c.278, s.6.