Litchfield Upgrades Water Main Project on State Street Following Resident Concerns

Litchfield City Council Meeting | Sept. 18, 2025

Article Summary: The City Council approved a nearly $100,000 change order to upgrade a water main project on State Street from 8-inch to 12-inch pipes. The decision came after input from a local fire safety expert regarding water flow and future firefighting capabilities.

Water Main Upgrade Key Points:

• Change Order: The council approved a $97,193 change order for Petersburg Plumbing Inc.

• Pipe Size: The project will now install a 12-inch water main instead of the originally planned 8-inch main along State Street.

• Increased Flow: The upgrade significantly increases water flow from approximately 1,500 gallons per minute to 3,500 gallons per minute.

• Fire Safety: The change was prompted by a request from a citizen with expertise in fire safety, aiming to maximize water supply for future development and emergencies.

A water infrastructure project on State Street is getting a significant upgrade after the Litchfield City Council voted to increase the pipe size on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2025.

The council unanimously approved a change order of $97,193 to Petersburg Plumbing Inc. to install a 12-inch water main instead of the planned 8-inch line. The project covers State Street from Edwards Street to Weir Street.

City Administrator Adam Pennock explained that a citizen reached out to several aldermen requesting the change. Alderperson Josh Hughes identified the citizen as an employee of Mac’s Fire & Safety, who argued that maximizing the water supply now would be more cost-effective than needing to upgrade again in the future.

“The work was done by the engineer to determine the difference,” Pennock said. “With the 8-inch line, [we would] be able to service about 1,500 gallons per minute… with the 12-inch line, you’d be able to pull about 3,500 gallons per minute.”

Pennock noted that while the 8-inch line would have been sufficient for current needs, the 12-inch line offers better long-term capacity. The additional cost will be covered by funds from the TIF 1 fund.