§ 2.7. Utilities; public improvements.

(a)

Water works and water supply. The city may own, operate, and maintain water works and acquire in any lawful manner in any county of the state such water, lands, property rights, and riparian rights as the council of said city may deem necessary for the purpose of providing an adequate water supply for said city, and of piping or conducting the same; lay all necessary mains and service lines, either within or without the corporate limits of the said city, and charge and collect water rents therefor; erect and maintain all necessary dams, pumping stations and other works in connection therewith; make reasonable rules and regulations for promoting the purity of its said water supply and for protecting the same from pollution; and for this purpose exercise full police powers and sanitary patrol over all lands comprised within the limits of the watershed tributary to any such water supply whenever such lands may be located in this state; impose and enforce adequate penalties for the violation of any such rules and regulations, and prevent by injunction any pollution or threatened pollution of such water supply and any and all acts likely to impair the purity thereof; and for the purpose of acquiring lands, interest in lands, property rights, and riparian rights or materials for any such use to exercise within the state all powers of eminent domain provided by the laws of this state. For any of the purposes aforesaid, said city may, if the council shall so determine, acquire by condemnation, purchase, or otherwise, any estate or interest in such lands or any of them in fee.

(b)

Electric light and gas works; supplying electricity and gas to customers. The city may own, operate, and maintain electric light and gas works, either within or without the corporate limits of said city, for the generating of electricity and the manufacture of gas for illuminating, power, and other purposes, and to supply the same, whether said gas and electricity be generated or purchased by said city, to its customers and consumers both within and without the corporate limits of the said city, at such price and upon such terms as it may prescribe; and to that end it may contract with owners of land and water power for the use thereof, or may have the same condemned, and purchase such electricity and gas from the owners thereof, and furnish the same to its customers and consumers.

(c)

Streets; parks, playgrounds, etc.; infrastructure; vehicles. The city may establish, maintain, improve, alter, vacate, regulate, and otherwise manage its streets, alleys, parks, playgrounds, and all of its public infrastructure and public works, in such manner as best serves the public interest, safety, and convenience; regulate, limit, restrict, and control the services and routes of and rates charged by vehicles for the carrying of passengers and property in accordance with general law; permit or prohibit poles and wires for electric, telephone, telegraph, television, and other purposes to be erected, and gas pipes to be laid in the streets and alleys, and to prescribe and collect an annual charge for such privileges; and require the owner or lessees of any such poles or wires now in use or hereafter used to place such wires, cables, and accoutrements in conduits underground in accordance with the city's prescribed requirements.

(d)

Continuation of use of south branch of Shenandoah River for sewage. In connection with the system of sewage, the city may continue to use the south branch of the Shenandoah River as heretofore.

(e)

Public utilities. Subject to the provisions of the Constitution of Virginia, this Charter, and general law, the city may grant franchises for public utilities, reserving rights of transfer, renewal, extension, and amendment thereof.

(f)

Collection and disposition of sewage, garbage, ashes, refuse, etc.; reduction and disposal plant. The city may collect and dispose of sewage, offal, ashes, garbage, carcasses of dead animals, and other refuse; make reasonable charges therefor; acquire and operate reduction or any other plants for the utilization or destruction of such materials, or any of them; contract for and regulate the collection and disposal thereof, and require and regulate the collection and disposal thereof.