If water supplied through a water-course be used in an unauthorised manner, and if the person by whose act or neglect such use has occurred cannot be identified,
the person on whose land such water has flowed if such land has derived benefit therefrom,
or if such person cannot be identified or if such land has not derived benefit therefrom, all the persons chargeable in respect of the water supplied through such water-course, shall be liable, or jointly liable, as the case may be, to the charges made for such use.