The City of Peoria and Illinois American Water are celebrating the results of collaboration above ground and underground in developing the Warehouse District.
Illinois American Water was able to do nearly $2 million of improvements underground while the Tiger II road reconstruction was going on in the Adams and Washington Streets area. The upgrade to the water system includes 20 new fire hydrants and 6,900 feet of water main.
Fire Chief Kent Tomblin says water access is often taken for granted. But he says it’s part of what keeps the Peoria Fire Department rated in the top two percent in the nation with the Insurance Services Office:
“We have excellent firefighters, men and women. We have excellent training. We have excellent equipment. And without and excellent water system we would not be rated a #2. The Water system is our blood line. When we go into a fire, we have to count on that hydrant working with the right amount of pressure.”
Tomblin says Illinois American Water Company maintains a great system.
A large number of contractors and subcontractors collaborated with the city, state and Illinois American Water to make the water service upgrades possible.