(A) The Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority is a body corporate and politic whose function is to acquire supplies of water and to distribute such water within its service area. To that end, the authority is empowered to construct such reservoirs, wells, treatment facilities, impounding dams or dykes, canals, conduits, aqueducts, tunnels, water distribution facilities, water mains and water lines, and appurtenant facilities, as in the opinion of the authority as may be considered necessary, and to acquire such land, rights of way, easements, machinery, apparatus, and equipment as is considered useful.

(B) The authority shall acquire, construct, operate, maintain, improve, and enlarge facilities which provide for the collection, treatment, disposal, and recycling of water and wastewater at any point within its service area, wherever such facilities are found by the authority to be necessary for the public health and the protection of the environment; to make such facilities available to private persons, private corporations, and governmental entities as authorized by this chapter; and to finance the cost of such facilities by the means made available to the authority by the provisions of this chapter.

(C) In order to perform services and functions related to the provision of water and waste water collection, treatment, and disposal services and related public works activities, the authority is authorized to contract with any of the following counties and any political subdivision therein: Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, and Colleton Counties.

(D) Without in any way limiting the provisions of this section, the service territory of the authority shall be Beaufort and Jasper Counties.