§ 35-1-225 — Inspection of water supply; duties as to streets and public structures generally

The department of health is authorized and empowered to
investigate and ascertain as far as possible, in relation to the
pollution of streams and natural waters of this state by
artificial causes, or of all waterworks, and water systems
belonging to any city or town, sanitary district, corporation,
company or individual, in this state and supplying water for
public consumption, which in their judgment may be necessary to
determine the sanitary and economic effects of such pollution,
and to enter in and upon the grounds, buildings and premises,
waterworks, reservoirs, pipelines, pump houses and everything
connected with the collection and distribution of water to the
inhabitants of any city or town, to make, institute, and conduct
needful experiments pertaining thereto, and shall have power to
summon witnesses, administer oaths, and hear evidence relating
to such matters, and to make full report to the city, town or
sanitary district authorities and also to the proper officers of
any privately owned water utility when included in such
investigations, of their operations and investigations in
writing; and it shall be the duty of all such officers when
notified of any unsanitary conditions of streets, alleys,
sidewalks, waterworks, or other public ways, structures or
improvements under their control, to at once take steps to
repair, cleanse, abate or destroy the same.