The local authority may erect such public ashpits, waterclosets, privies, and urinals, and in such situations, as they may think fit, and may defray the expense thereof, and of keeping the same in repair and in good order, and shall cause such privies to be cleansed daily; and the local authority may also, by written notice to the owner or occupier of any schoolhouse, or of any factory or building in which persons are employed in any manufacture, trade, or business, require them or either of them, within a time specified, to construct a sufficient number of waterclosets or privies for the separate use of each sex; and any person failing to comply with such notice shall be liable for each offence in a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds.