Sec. 21. Civil action for unpaid assessments. If an assessment is not paid and the district does not proceed to collect unpaid assessments by proceedings as prescribed in section 20 or does not collect or is in any manner delayed or defeated in collecting the assessments by the proceedings, then the district in its name may maintain a civil action against the party so assessed for the amount of the assessment as for money paid, laid out and expended in any court of competent jurisdiction. The district may recover the amount of the assessment with 10% interest on the same from the date of the assessment and costs.

Sec. 22. Collection of unpaid rates. There is a lien on real estate served or benefited by the sewers of the district to secure the payment of rates, tolls, rents, impact fees, entrance charges and other charges established and due under this Act. The lien takes precedence over all other claims on the real estate excepting only claims for taxes.

The treasurer of the district has full and complete authority and power to collect the rates, tolls, rents, impact fees, entrance charges and other charges established under this Act, and they must be committed to the treasurer. The treasurer may, after demand for payment, sue in the name of the district in a civil action for any rate, toll, rent, impact fee, entrance charge or other charge remaining unpaid in any court of competent jurisdiction. In addition to other methods established by law for the collection of rates, tolls, rents, impact fees, entrance charges and other charges, and without waiver of the right to sue for the same, the lien created may be enforced in the following manner. The treasurer, when a rate, toll, rent, impact fee, entrance charge or other charge has been committed to the treasurer for collection, may, after the expiration of 3 months and within one year after the date when the same became due and