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.