A County Water Supply Authority which shall find it necessary in storing water in connection with its water supply business, to occupy or flow with water a portion of any street, highway or public road of any township, borough or county in the Commonwealth, shall relocate, realign or provide a substitute route for any such street, highway or public road at its own expense. The location and quality of the proposed substitute road as set forth in plans and specifications submitted by the Authority, in conformity with minimum standards and specifications promulgated by the Department of Highways, shall be approved by the court of quarter sessions of the county in which the existing road is located, after public hearing had, after notice pursuant to order of the court, and prior to the occupation or flooding of the existing road. The Authority shall be required, by order of the court, to provide or pay only the cost of original construction of a substitute road equivalent in quality and character to the prior existing street, highway or public road.