Pennsylvania-American Water will begin $450,000 worth of pipe upgrades in Butler starting Monday, according to a statement Friday by the company.

Pennsylvania American will replace 1,300 feet of aging steel pipe along Federal Street between North Washington and North Chestnut streets with ductile iron pipe. It also will upgrade 70 service connections to copper pipe and install two new fire hydrants.

The Federal Street project should be complete, including repaving, by spring 2009. It will cost about $216,000.

“We expect little to no service disruption as a result of the improvements,” said Gary Lobaugh, a spokesman for Pennsylvania American.

The company also will replace an eight-inch cast-iron water main beneath West Diamond Street between South Jackson and South Main streets. The main, which has been the source of several recent water line breaks, dates to the early 1900s and will be replaced with an eight-inch ductile iron line.

The West Diamond Street project should cost about $236,000 and be completed this fall, according to the company statement.

Seven service connections along West Diamond Street will be upgraded to copper pipe as well.

The purpose of both projects is to improve service reliability and to increase water flow for firefighting.