Foundational Fix: Coyle Water System
JPUD commissioners accepted a $1.33M construction bid from Pacific Civil and Infrastructure (PCI) for the water line replacement project in the Coyle water system during the January 6th regular meeting. The small, rural water system serves 118 customers at the southern end of the Toandoes Peninsula along Hood Canal in Jefferson County.
Excessive leak-loss was the reason behind the project. Leak loss is the water a system treats and pumps but never delivers to customers because it leaks before it reaches a meter. Leak loss often comes from aging infrastructure, poor construction practices, or hidden underground leaks that can be hard to detect. The 3-year average leak rate estimate for the Coyle system was 62.4%. The State of Washington aims for water systems to have a leak-loss of >10% over a 3-year average.
The project will replace approximately 8,800 feet of aging asbestos-cement (AC) water main and will include installing new fire hydrants, removing outdated hydrants, reconnecting existing water services, replacing roadway surfaces, and restoring the public right-of-way as needed.
Construction will begin in early-2026, with construction taking place along Alder, Cedar, Maple, Oak, Hemlock, Hickory, and Madrona Streets, as well as Wolf, Eaton, Bear, Deer, Elk, Pine, Hazel Point, Fox, and Moose Roads. Project design was completed by HDR Engineering, Inc. of Bellevue.
While the construction bid totals $1.3 million, the overall approved project funding totaled $2,677,940. The board-approved funding package was provided through the Washington State Public Works Board, which includes $1,338,970 in grant funding and$1,338,970 in low-interest loan. The loan carries an interest rate of 0.86% with a 20-year term, which helps limit rate impacts.
“This investment addresses aging infrastructure, reduces the risk of water main failures, and supports reliable service for the community” said JPUD Water Superintendent, Jose Escalera. “We will work with customers in the project area and provide advance notice of any anticipated service impacts.”