CHAPTER 669

An Act to require the State Corporation Commission to make certain
determinations as to water and sewer systems and to make such
determinations admissible in evidence.

[H 564]

Approved April 7, 1954
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. (a) “Water system” as used herein means any privately owned

connected system of mains, pipes, conduits, pumping stations, reservoirs

and related facilities furnishing water to fifty or more subscribers for

compensation when the person who furnishes the service is not subject to

regulation by the Commission as a public utility under Chapter 10 of
itle 56.

(b) “Sewerage System” means any privately owned system of pipe
lines or conduits, pumping stations, force mains, sewage treatment
plants, and all other constructions, devices, and appliances appurtenant
thereto, used for conducting or treating sewage as that term is defined in
Chapter 2 of Title 62 of the Code of Virginia, which furnishes service for
compensation to fifty or more subscribers, which is not subject to regula-
tion by the Commission as a public utility, and for which a certificate has
not been issued or applied for in accordance with the provisions of Chapter
2 of Title 62 of the Code.

(c) “Commission” means the State Corporation Commission.

(d) “Person” means person as that term is defined in Title 1 of the
Code of Virginia.

§ 2. If fifty or more of the subscribers, but not more than one from
any one household, who have contracts to purchase water from a water
system or for sewerage service from a sewerage system file with the Com-
mission a petition alleging that the service furnished by the system is
inadequate and ought to be improved, the Commission shall after notice
to the operators of such system investigate the complaint and formulate
an opinion whether in the light of the successful performance of sewerage
or water systems of similar design and purpose, the system is capable of
serving the reasonable domestic needs of the persons or properties served.
§ 8. The opinion of the Commission shall be furnished in writing to
the petitioners and to the owners of the water or sewerage system and
shall be admissible in evidence in any proceedings concerning contracts
between such water sewerage system and its subscribers together with any
other evidence which may be offered by either litigant.

§ 4. No provision of this act shall apply to a corporation the prin-
cipal business of which is the operation of a hotel and which may extend
the use of its surplus water and sewage facilities to a limited number of
patrons.