(a) General rule.--A city may, by agreement, connect with an existing sanitary sewer owned by any municipal corporation or municipal authority for either sanitary sewage collection or treatment purposes.

(b) Petition court of common pleas.--When a city desires to connect with the existing sewer of any municipal corporation or municipal authority and no agreement has been reached between the city and the municipal corporation or municipal authority, council shall present a petition to the court of common pleas setting forth those facts. The court shall fix a date for a hearing and notify all interested parties of the date.

(c) Appointment of viewers.--If, after the hearing, the court determines that the connection can be made without impairing the usefulness of the existing sanitary sewer system, the court shall appoint three viewers to:

(1) View the premises.

(2) Investigate the facts of the case.

(3) Assess the necessary costs and expenses of making the connection.

(4) Assess the proportionate part of the expense of building the original sanitary sewer system upon the city.

(d) Determination of the court.--The court shall determine the proportion of the expense for repairs that each city, municipal corporation and municipal authority bears and shall determine all other questions liable to arise in connection with the repairs.

(e) Report.--The viewers shall submit a report to the court with the result of their investigation, which shall be confirmed within 30 days, unless exceptions to the report are filed.

(f) Appeal.--After confirmation of the report or the disposal of any exceptions, any party interested may appeal the decision of the court of common pleas.