The completed project will pipe Fort Dodge water to Manson, giving that Calhoun County community a reliable supply after several years of drilling wells produced no usable water source.

Officials from both communities hope to have the construction completed this year and the water flowing next spring.

Two companies are working to build the water line. One is working from Fort Dodge — the other from Manson.

The Fort Dodge portion of the line starts at the ag industrial park called Iowa’s Crossroads of Global Innovation, according to City Engineer Austin Morrow. He said it extends from the industrial park about two miles to Fairbanks Avenue.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
The crew from Gehrke Inc., of Eldora, installs a water main on the south side of Iowa Highway 7 near Franklin Avenue Thursday afternoon. The completed pipeline will move water from Fort Dodge to Manson.

Morrow said about 1,300 feet of water main is in the ground now.

Gehrke Inc., of Eldora, is building the Fort Dodge portion of the line.

The Manson part of the line will extend from that city to Fairbanks Avenue, where it will link up with the part being constructed by Fort Dodge near Iowa Highway 7.

But there is a lot of work being done within Manson also. Mayor Dave Anderson said a new 10-inch diameter water main has been built from the east side of town to the west side. He said all of the city’s existing water mains will be tied into that, plus all the residences along 12th Avenue will be connected to it.

Anderson said all the work on that line is done. He said crews will start putting cement paving over the line this week.

He said a new water pressure booster station will be constructed on the east side of Manson.

Graff Excavating, of Toledo, is the contractor for the Manson part of the line.

Wet weather throughout the summer has “impacted” the project, according to Morrow.

“It’s been a challenge for the crews,” Anderson said. “They’re basically working in mud.”

In early 2021, an engineering report recommended that Manson connect to Fort Dodge to get adequate water. In August of that year, the two communities entered a memorandum of understanding for construction of the water line.

According to information presented to the Fort Dodge City Council, Manson has an average daily water demand of 225,000 gallons, with a peak demand of 385,000 gallons.

Design of the water line began in 2022.