Whereas, the residents of the towns of Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor are in immediate need of forming a quasi-municipal entity to supply potable water; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. Territorial limits; corporate name. Pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 6403, subsection 1, paragraph B, and subject to section 12 of this Act, the Town of Boothbay and the Town of Boothbay Harbor and their inhabitants constitute a standard water district under the name "Boothbay Region Water District," referred to in this Act as the "district."

Sec. 2. Powers; authority; duties. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the district has all the powers and authority and is subject to all the requirements and restrictions provided in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, chapter 64. The district has authority to provide water to the Town of Southport.

Sec. 3. Power to take water. The district is authorized to take, hold and to convey within the Town of Boothbay, the Town of Boothbay Harbor and the Town of Southport and from any part of the towns and the islands adjacent to the towns water from Adams Pond, Knickerbocker Lake, Wiley Pond and Meadow Brook Wells in the Town of Boothbay and the Town of Boothbay Harbor and from any other surface and groundwater source within the towns.

Sec. 4. Authorized to acquire property and franchises of the Town of Boothbay Harbor and the East Boothbay Water District. Pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 6403, subsection 2, paragraph C, the district, through its trustees, may acquire by purchase the plants, properties, assets, franchises, rights and privileges owned by the Town of Boothbay Harbor and the East Boothbay Water District, including all lands, buildings, waters, water rights, reservoirs, tanks, standpipes, mains, pumps, pipes, machinery, fixtures, hydrants, meters, services, tools, equipment and all apparatus and appliances used or usable in supplying water in the area of the district. The district may acquire, by the exercise