La. Stat. tit. 33 § 4503
In addition to such powers as it may have relating to the granting of franchises for the operation and maintenance of public utilities, the governing authority of any city in this state shall have power, subject to the provisions of this Section, to grant indeterminate permits for the use of the streets and other public places in connection with the operation and maintenance of a waterworks system, which permit shall continue in force until such time as the city shall purchase or acquire such system under the option hereinafter provided for. No such permit shall be granted except upon the condition that the city granting it shall have perpetual option to purchase the waterworks system, at any time, at the price agreed upon or to be ascertained and determined in a manner agreed upon at the time of the granting of the permit and to be set forth therein. The governing authority of every such city shall have the right to prescribe, stipulate, or agree to, such other conditions of said permits as it may deem proper, and upon any violation of any such condition the city may sue for the enforcement of the terms of the permit.
La. R.S. § 33:4503