The Minister, on an application made to him by a local authority who are supplying water under this Act for domestic purposes, may fix a maximum charge per thousand gallons for a supply of water by meter, subject to the right of the authority to make such, minimum charge, if any, as he may fix, and, where a maximum charge has been so fixed, the provisions of the two next succeeding subsections shall have effect.
The local authority may require that all water supplied by them to—
shall be taken by meter.
A local authority who propose to make an application to the Minister under this section shall give notice of their proposal in such manner and to such persons, if any, as the Minister may direct, and the Minister shall not decide the application before the expiration of one month from the giving of the notice, and before giving his decision shall take into consideration any representations which may have been received by him.