Section 12
SEC. 12. Section 32 of the same decree is hereby amended by adding four new subsections therein, which shall read as follows: "SEC. 32. Protection of Waters and Facilities of District.—A district shall have the right to: "(a) Commence, maintain, intervene in, defend and compromise actions or proceedings to prevent interference with or deterioration of water quality or the natural flow of any surface, steam or ground water supply which may be used or useful for any purpose of the district or be a common benefit to the lands or its inhabitants. The ground water within a district is necessary to the performance of the district's powers and such district is hereby authorized to adopt rules and regulations subject to the approval of the National Water Resources Council governing the drilling, maintenance and operation of wells within its boundaries for purposes other than a single family domestic use on overlying land. Any well operated in violation of such regulations shall be deemed in interference with the waters of the district. "(b) Require a developer or builder of any structure within the service areas of the district to extend or connect its pipeline facilities to the district facilities whenever such development or structure is within one hundred meters of existing district facilities or whenever the district is willing to extend its facilities within one hundred meters of said development or structure. For the purpose of this section, development shall include the subdivision of land for any purpose other than agricultural purpose, and structure shall mean any building or facility to be used for residential, commercial or industrial purposes. "(c) Prohibit any person, firm or corporation from vending, selling, or otherwise disposing of water for public purposes within the service area of the district where district facilities are available to provide such service, or fix terms and conditions by permit for such sale or disposition of water. "(d) Safeguard and protect the use of its waters. For this purpose, any person who installs any water connection without the previous authority from the water district established under this Decree; tampers water meters or uses jumpers or other devices whereby water is stolen; stealls or pilfers water or water meters; knowingly possesses stolen or pilfered water or water meters shall, upon conviction, be punished by prison correccional in its minimum period or a fine ranging from two thousand pesos to six thousand pesos, or both. If the violation is committed with the connivance or permission of an employee or officer of the water district, an employee or officer shall, upon conviction, be punished by a penalty one degree lower than prision correccional in its minimum period and forthwith be dismissed and perpetually disqualified from employment in any utility or service company owned or controlled by the government."