HSC §5053: The rates and penalties may be collected in the following manner: (a) An action may be brought in the name of the district against the person who occupied the property when the service was rendered fo

The rates and penalties may be collected in the following manner: (a) An action may be brought in the name of the district against the person who occupied the property when the service was rendered for the collection of the amount of the delinquent rate and all penalties. A reasonable attorney’s fee shall be awarded the plaintiff. (b) The governing body may provide that the rates shall be collected with the rates for any other utility service rendered by the district and all the rates shall be itemized, billed upon the same bill, and collected as one item, together with and not separate from such other utility service charge. (c) Such rates may be collected with the rates for any other utility service furnished by a department or agency of such district over which the legislative body thereof does not exercise control, or with a publicly or privately owned public utility, with the written consent and agreement of said department or agency or public utility owner, which agreement shall establish the terms and conditions upon which such collections shall be made. Such agreement, in the discretion of such department or agency or public utility owner making the collections, also may provide that said rates shall be itemized, billed upon the same bill, and collected as one item, together with and not separately from such other utility service charge.