Construction of a large water main connecting the two communities took place last year, with the goal of having the new water service functioning in the spring of this year. 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.

Two companies worked to build the water line. One worked 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.

Gehrke Inc., of Eldora, built the Fort Dodge portion of the line.

-Messenger file photo by Bill Shea
Two stacks of pipe positioned alongside Iowa Highway 7 last summer are now part of a water main connecting Fort Dodge and Manson.

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

But a lot of work was 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.

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.

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.