LIVERMORE FALLS – A Mechanic Falls company is in the process of replacing an 6-inch water main with a 12-inch one on Union Street to increase flow of water to fire hydrants.

Pratt & Sons, Inc. were in town Monday to begin the project for the Livermore Falls Water District. The company had replaced water mains, services and upgraded the fire hydrant system this spring and summer on several streets, including Park Street.

The district has a U.S. Department of Agriculture low interest loan of $855,000 and more than $400,000 in grants to cover the previous project. Because of good contract prices, Superintendent Doug Burdo said the district was able to add the Union and Sewall streets upgrades.

The company had bid $809,000 for the original project, which had been estimated to cost about $1.3 million.

The Union Street project is about 1,000 feet and will cost about $169,000, Burdo said.

Replacing the water mains, services and hydrants are part of the 20-year comprehensive plan, Burdo said.

“We still have a lot that needs to be done but it depends on budgets,” he said.

So far the district has upgraded less than 10 miles of the 40 miles of water mains, he said.