Jasper’s Utility Service Board approves emergency contract to address Skyline neighborhood issues

$579,097 contract awarded to Fer-Pal for water main cleaning and relining after months of resident complaints

Jasper Municipal Utilities has received approval from the Utility Service Board to award an emergency contract to Fer-Pal Infrastructure for cleaning and relining water main pipes in the Skyline neighborhood. The board’s decision comes after months of resident complaints about discolored water in the area.

The contract, approved without going through a formal competitive bidding process, includes a not-to-exceed amount of $579,097 to address water quality issues on Birk Drive and Alois Court.

“Due to ongoing issues with significantly discolored water in the neighborhood, our findings and mitigation efforts to date, along with concerns with an inability to otherwise address these issues in a timely fashion, an emergency exists,” Utilities General Manager Rob Young explained during Wednesday afternoon’s meeting.

The approved contract includes mobilization of the Fer-Pal Infrastructure team from Michigan, installation of a temporary bypass water system to maintain service to customers throughout the process, and cleaning and CIPP (cured-in-place pipe) water main lining of 6-inch and 8-inch mains.

The timeline from first day to completion is estimated at 8 to 10 weeks, with the project potentially starting in late April. Temporary bypass for service lines could begin as early as mid-next week, around April 23.

Issues with discolored water in the Skyline neighborhood began escalating in November 2024, with complaints coming from residents on Birk Drive, Brosmer Street, and Alois Court. While the utility department was aware of some past complaints, the volume became noticeably higher around this time, Young said.

Several external factors may have contributed to the issues, including a building demolition construction project west of the neighborhood, a water main break in the southeast, and annual hydrant flushing.

Initial attempts to address the problem included frequent hydrant flushing, valve work, and advising residents to run water and possibly drain hot water heaters. While these efforts produced minor improvements, the issues were never completely resolved.

In January 2025, the utility determined that a first step to address the root cause was to replace a 4-inch main on Brosmer Street, which was completed in March 2025. Images from that line revealed heavy tuberculation (rusty nodule buildup), which significantly diminished the area for water flow.

“As Brosmer Street had a four-inch main, the area for water flow was significantly diminished from the original pipe,” Young noted. “While Birk Drive was a larger diameter line, 6 and 8 inch, and more water can flow through it, the amount of tuberculation found was still significant.”

Following the main replacement on Brosmer Street, the utility continued to monitor calls. After initially not hearing much, complaints increased significantly over the past two weeks. The utility believes that increased flow through the new main on Brosmer Street may be exacerbating the stirring of tuberculation in additional places.

Young explained that since last November, they have been examining numerous possible solutions and consulting with various engineering firms and contractors, including Wessler Engineering, Midwest Engineers, Fer-Pal, American Pipeline Solutions, Puris Corp, and Indiana World Water.

Options considered included main pipe replacement, cleaning, and lining. After extensive evaluation, the utility determined that contracting with Fer-Pal for a full cleaning and relining project for Birk Drive and Alois Court is the best path forward. The recommendation was further supported by Huntingburg’s experience with the process and contractor when the hundred-plus-year-old water main under Fourth Street was relined and updated in 2016.

The utility compared several alternatives before making this recommendation. Complete main replacement for the six streets in the area could cost approximately $2.93 million, while the comparative cost for Fer-Pal’s process would be about $2.3 million. For just Birk Drive and Alois Court, main replacement would cost an estimated $723,000, compared to $579,097 for the Fer-Pal cleaning and lining solution but could cause significant disruption and not be done in a timely manner.

One key advantage of the Fer-Pal solution is the temporary bypass system, which will allow residents to maintain water service throughout the entire 8-10 week process. The system will involve pipes running along properties, with accommodations for street crossings and driveways.

“There’d be some broken gravel that would be laid across their driveway so they can cross without damaging the pipe. But otherwise, there’d be no issues with their service. It might actually be a cleaner source for that period,” Young explained.

The CIPP lining process is expected to last at least 80 years, though representatives believe it could last much longer because the original pipe still serves as an external shell.

The utility plans to work with Fer-Pal on a communication plan for residents, including a letter that will be distributed in advance of any activity. There may also be a follow-up invitation for residents to attend a brief discussion about the project.

The board unanimously approved both the declaration of an emergency situation and the contract award to Fer-Pal.