Pennsylvania Statutes Title 53 P.S. Municipal and Quasi-Municipal Corporations § 67601. Contracts with water companies and municipal corporations and acquisition of water systems

(a) The board of supervisors may by contract with any private corporation or any adjacent municipal corporation owning a waterworks system provide water for public and private uses, to be delivered through lines owned by that company or municipal corporation within the township.  The contract shall provide the manner by which the cost of the water service shall be paid by the consumers.

(b) The board of supervisors may purchase or acquire a privately owned water system to provide water for public and private uses.  If a privately owned water company fails to render service as required by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the board of supervisors may with the approval of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission exercise the right of eminent domain to acquire the water system of the water company to provide water for public and private uses.

(c) Any township may by agreement connect with an existing water system owned by any adjacent municipal corporation.  When any township desires to connect with the existing water system of any adjacent municipal corporation and no agreement has been reached between the township and the adjacent municipal corporation, a petition seeking approval of the connection shall be presented by the board of supervisors to the court of common pleas.  The court shall set a day for hearing upon the petition and shall direct public notice be given to all interested parties.  If the court is of the opinion that the connection can be made without impairing the usefulness of the existing water system, it shall appoint three viewers to view the premises, investigate the facts of the case, assess the necessary costs and expenses of making the connection and the proportionate part of the expense of building the original water system upon the township, determine the proportion of the expense for repairs which the municipal corporation and the township shall bear and determine all other questions likely to arise in connection therewith.