Such corporations may contract with persons, natural or artificial, for the furnishing of water in townships, villages and cities and may construct and maintain water mains through the public highways thereof, with the consent of the proper local authorities having jurisdiction over such highways. Such mains shall in all cases be the property of the corporation. Such contracts may specify such terms of payment for such mains as shall be just and equitable in the judgment of the corporation, and may in its discretion provide for a rebate of a just proportion of the cost thereof to the persons originally paying the same, whenever additional connections are made and additional service rendered therefrom.
MCL 123.142