In order to accomplish the purposes of a regional water and sewer district, to protect its projects, to secure the best results from the construction, operation, and maintenance thereof, and to prevent damage by the misuse of any such projects or by the pollution or misuse of the waters of the state within the district or without the district and served or affected by a project or projects of the district, the board of trustees may make and enforce such rules and regulations as are necessary and advisable:

(A) To protect and preserve the projects of such district, prescribe the manner of their use by any person or political subdivision and preserve order within and adjacent thereto;

(B) To prescribe the manner in which ditches, sewers, pipelines, or other works shall be adjusted to or connected with the projects of the district and the manner in which waste is disposed of within the district;

(C) To prescribe the permissible uses of the water supply and the manner of its distribution and to prevent the pollution or unnecessary waste of such water supply;

(D) To prohibit or regulate the discharge into the waste water facilities of the district of any liquid or solid waste detrimental to its works and improvements.

Such rules and regulations shall not be inconsistent with the laws of the state or the rules and regulations or requirements of the environmental protection agency.

The board may enforce by mandamus, injunction, or other legal remedy rules and regulations made by it pursuant to this section, and may remove any harmful or improper construction or obstruction or may close any opening or connection made improperly or in violation of such rules and regulations. The board may bring such suit in mandamus in the court of appeals in the first instance, if it deems it advisable. Any person or political subdivision which willfully fails to comply with such rules and regulations shall be liable for damage caused by such failure and for the cost of restoring or replacing any construction damaged or destroyed.

Effective Date: 10-23-1972 .