Power to enter premises

(1) Subject to this section, any authorized officer of a licensee shall on producing, if so required, some duly authenticated document showing his authority, have a right to enter any premises at all reasonable hours– (a) for the purpose of inspecting and examining meters used by the licensee for measuring the water supplied by them, and of ascertaining therefrom the quantity of water consumed; (b) for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been on or in connection with the premises any contravention of the provisions of this Act or any regulations made thereunder; (c) for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not circumstances exist which would allow a licensee to take any action or execute any work under this Act or any regulations made thereunder; or (d) for the purpose of taking any action or executing any work authorized or required under this Act or any regulations or bye-laws made thereunder be taken or executed by a except that admission to any premises shall not be demanded as of right unless twenty-four hours notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier. (2) An authorized officer of a licensee may between the hours of seven in the forenoon and six in the afternoon on producing, if required, evidence of his authority, enter any premises supplied with water by the licensee in order to examine if there be any waste or misuse of such water and, if after production of his authority, he is refused admittance to the premises or is obstructed in making his examination, the person refusing him admittance or so obstructing him commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both such fine and imprisonment. (3) If it is shown to the satisfaction of a magistrate on sworn information in writing that, (a) admission to any premises has been refused or that refusal is reasonably apprehended or that the premises are unoccupied or that the occupier is temporarily absent or that the case is one of urgency or that an application for admission would defeat the object of the entry; and (b) there is reasonable ground for entry into the premises for any such purpose as aforesaid, the magistrate may by warrant under his hand authorize the licensee by any authorized officer to enter the premises, if need be by force. (4) An authorized officer entering any premises under the powers conferred by this section or of a warrant issued thereunder may take with him such other persons as may be necessary and on leaving any unoccupied premises which he has entered by virtue of such a warrant shall leave them as effectually secured against trespassers as he found them. (5) Every warrant granted under this section shall continue in force until the purpose for which the entry is necessary has been satisfied.