Litchfield Approves $397k for Emergency Water Plant Repairs; Resident Donates $100k to Cause

Litchfield City Council Meeting | Nov. 6, 2025

Article Summary: The Litchfield City Council authorized nearly $400,000 in emergency expenditures to fix a catastrophic failure at the water treatment plant, aided by a significant private donation. Officials also addressed resident concerns regarding water taste, odor, and recent billing spikes.

Water Plant Repairs Key Points:

• Emergency Spending: The council waived competitive bidding to approve $397,476.14 in repairs across six different vendors.

• Major Donation: Local resident Dr. Dennis Billiter donated $100,000 to the city to help offset the repair costs.

• Water Quality: The plant is currently using a “free burn” chlorine method, causing a strong taste and smell, but officials affirm the water is safe.

• Billing Issues: Recent higher water bills were attributed to a longer-than-average 35-day billing cycle, not a rate increase.

The Litchfield City Council on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, voted unanimously to waive competitive bidding procedures and authorize $397,476.14 in emergency expenditures to address a critical failure at the Litchfield Water Treatment Plant.

City Administrator Breann Vazquez reported that the plant suffered a “catastrophic failure of its chemical feed system.” As a result, the facility is currently unable to use its standard combination of monochloramines and ammonia. Instead, the plant has switched to a “free burn” method using free chlorine to ensure the water remains disinfected.

“The water is safe to drink,” Vazquez assured the council and the public. However, she acknowledged that the temporary treatment method has resulted in water that may taste musty or smell strongly of chlorine.

“We believe the taste and smell are a result of this. Hydrant flushing is also a contributing factor,” Vazquez said. She explained that the new equipment will allow the city to switch back to the standard chemical mix, which should resolve the sensory issues.

The approved emergency work includes contracts with several companies, including All Service Contracting, Orthos Liquid Systems, and Shannahan Crane & Hoist, among others.

In a move that drew praise from city officials, Mayor Jacob Fleming announced that local resident Dr. Dennis Billiter had donated $100,000 to the city specifically to assist with these water plant expenses.

“I thanked Dr. Billiter for his gracious donation,” Fleming said. “He asked that the funds be used [for the water plant].”

During the meeting, officials also addressed complaints regarding recent water bills. Vazquez clarified that there has been no rate increase. The spike in some residents’ bills was caused by the timing of meter readings, resulting in a 35-day billing cycle rather than the typical 30 days.

“We have not had any rate increases,” Vazquez said, noting that water rates were last raised in 2020. “Typically, a billing cycle is 30 days; this billing cycle was 35 days.”