Whenever the council shall deem an improvement to the distribution system as defined in section 27-51, whether on petition or otherwise, it shall, by ordinance, declare such improvement necessary to be done, together with the reason therefor and shall cause plans and specifications for such work and improvement together with an estimate of the cost thereof, to be prepared by the director of the water and light department and filed with the city clerk, subject to inspection of the public, which ordinance shall also set out in detail the course along which the water main pipes are to be laid, the depth, the dimensions of the pipe, the source and the termination thereof, together with the necessary valves and other equipment and appurtenances in connection with the pipe, and cause the ordinance to be published in some newspaper printed in the city.

(Code 1964, § 14.940)