All taxes levied in accordance with the provisions of section one hereof¹ shall be payable in advance, during the months of January, February, and March of each fiscal year. Water-rents, or rates, which are payable on the flat rate basis shall also be payable in advance, during the same months. The taxpayers shall also have the option to elect to pay the aforesaid taxes or water-rents, or rates, quarterly, as follows; viz.,--

The first quarterly payment, during the months of January, February, and March; the second quarterly payment, during the month of April; the third quarterly payment, during the month of July; and the fourth quarterly payment, during the month of October. The first quarterly payment shall become delinquent if not paid on or before the thirty-first of March; the second quarterly payment shall become delinquent if not paid on or before the thirtieth of April; the third quarterly payment shall become delinquent if not paid on or before the thirty-first of July, and the fourth quarterly payment shall become delinquent if not paid on or before the thirty-first of October; and the said quarterly payments shall when delinquent, in each respective instance, bear the same penalties and interest charges as hereinafter provided for delinquent taxes. Quarterly payments made at any of the respective times hereinbefore provided shall be payable at face, except the first quarterly payment, which, if made during the month of January, shall be paid at a discount of two per centum. Water which is supplied to consumers on a metered basis shall be payable at such time or times as may be prescribed by ordinance.

The city shall have power to prescribe by ordinance the time or times at which meters shall be read, the terms and conditions on which water will be supplied on a metered service; and the time or times on which payment for such water shall be made. It shall also have the power to prescribe the discounts, if any, which shall be allowed for prompt payment; and the penalties, if any, which may be imposed for delayed payments; and also to provide for a minimum rate or rates for meter service for all classes of users of water, including both domestic and commercial. In the absence of any provision by ordinance in reference to the same, the board of water assessors shall read all meters not less than four times per year; and shall read all meters during the months of October and November of each year, and ascertain the amount of water used in each year, as shown by said meters for the preceding twelve months, or as near thereto as may be convenient; and shall assess the water-rents, or rates, for the water consumed, at the rates fixed from time to time by ordinance, and the same shall be payable annually, during the months of January, February, and March of each succeeding year.

A discount of two per centum shall be allowed on all taxes or water-rents, or rates, due under the provisions of this act and paid during the month of January. During the months of February and March all taxes and water-rents, or rates, shall be payable at face, all of said payments to be made to the city treasurer, at his office and at such other place as may be designated by the city treasurer; and, in case said taxes or water-rents, or rates, be not paid at the times fixed for the payment of the same, said taxes and water-rents, or rates, shall be deemed delinquent, and shall be placed in the hands of the collector of delinquent taxes for collection; and two per centum of the total amount of said taxes and water-rents, or rates, shall forthwith be added to said delinquent taxes and water-rents, or rates, as a penalty for the nonpayment thereof at the times herein prescribed; and, in addition to said penalty, said delinquent taxes and water-rents, or rates, shall bear interest at the rate of one-half per centum per month on the face amount of said delinquent taxes and water-rents, or rates, for each and every month, or part thereof, that the same shall remain delinquent and unpaid.

Said city shall have the right, as heretofore, to charge all consumers of water for water furnished by said city, and also to make such exemptions or reductions of rates, as may be fixed by ordinance, to any public charity, school, religious institution, and kindred institution, and, for said purposes, to have and possess all of the rights in respect to the collection of said rents, or rates, as are now in force or may hereafter be enacted.

Said city shall have the further right to shut off the supply of water to any premises, at any time, upon the nonpayment of the water-rents, or rates, levied and assessed for water supplied thereto, as and when the same becomes due and payable.