Southside Integrated Pipe System (SIPS)

Program Overview

JEA is continuing work on a project to construct a new water transmission pipeline between two major water treatment grids in the Duval County Service Territory. The project will allow JEA the ability to transport excess water supply from the north side of the St. Johns River to the south side of the river to better meet increased Potable Water demand in the southerly portion of the JEA service area.

The Southside Integrated Pipe System (SIPS) project was created following a study that investigated JEA’s future water supply need implementation of this project will deliver raw water from the Main Street Water Treatment Plant (WTP) currently serving JEA’s North Grid service area, to the Deerwood III (Water Treatment Plant) WTP which serves JEA’s South Grid service area.

Once the new water transmission line is constructed and placed on-line, it will result in a direct offset of water withdrawal from the South Grid. Once completed, this project will promote conservation of the Floridian aquifer by lessening JEA's water resource withdrawal demand from its southern Raw Water well fields.

Planning, Design and Construction Projects

A project of this magnitude begins by surveying the streets and surrounding areas to determine the precise location of the existing water lines and other underground utilities that may present conflicts during construction. The pre-design evaluation also identifies the public rights of way, existing asphalt and soil conditions, and other conditions that will be factored into the project’s design.

After the design is completed, project phases are constructed using a combination of local contractors and JEA crews dedicated to this program. Some phases are “packaged” as a single project to be constructed at the same time due to their connectivity and proximity. Those projects are bid and awarded to a contractor. Smaller, individual street segments are completed by JEA’s in-house forces. This bilateral approach gives JEA the flexibility to keep projects moving forward at a consistent pace.

Project Phases

The first segment of the project began in June 2022, and is anticipated to be completed in October 2024. This phase involves the installation of approximately 34,000 feet of 30-inch ductile iron water main from Southside Boulevard and Bradley Road to the Deerwood III WTP.  As part of this project phase, we will be replacing approximately 3,548 feet of 6-inch of distribution water main, approximately 4,000 feet of raw water main from a future JEA production well site in the Forest Boulevard area to connect to an existing raw water main, and extending the water main along Forest Boulevard. By extending the water main in this location, we will have the opportunity to serve 20 homes on Forest Boulevard who are currently served by private wells. 

The second segment of the SIPS project began in October 2022, and is anticipated to be completed in May 2024. This phase involves the installation of 12,110 linear feet of raw water main from a JEA electric transmission easement located near Gate Parkway to JEA’s Deerwood Water Treatment Plant located at 7587 Southside Boulevard.  

Please see project area maps for both phases below. Be sure to visit the website project pages for both phases for current road closures and detours.  

Deerwood - Southside Integrated Pipe System Water Project Phase 1

Deerwood - Southside Integrated Pipe System Water Project Phase 2

Deerwood - Southside Integrated Pipe System Water Project Phase 3

Phase 1 - Overall Project Route

Phase 2 - Overall Project Route

Phase 3 - Overall Project Route

Community FAQ

Below are some questions we have received from community members about the project. This section will be updated as the project progresses.

Q. Are there plans for a city sewer to be installed in the neighborhood, and when? 
A. There are currently no sewer improvements proposed through this project or in the near future. There are not currently any funded septic tank projects located in this area. 

Q. Will the road closure starting March 27th change the school bus and city bus route? What will be their new route? 
A. The closures will only impact one bus stop for Duval County Public Schools (DCPS). However all the bus routes will have to follow the detour routes to get to the bus stops. This has been communicated to DCPS for coordination. At this time we do not believe any JTA stops will be changed, but the routes will be affected by detours. JTA is also aware of these impacts. 

Q. Is there a map showing the street layout of the construction project South of Forest Blvd? Where is a link to it? Where is an entrance? 
A. Yes. JEA has provided numerous project update emails to all residents in the area with the route and you can access these maps as well as upcoming Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) maps at www.jea.com/sips. If you have not received these emails please make sure that you update your email on your JEA account located at jea.com. You can also send an email to the JEA Project Outreach Team at projectoutreach@jea.com and we will make sure you are on the list. 

Q. Does JEA have a count for the number of houses in Windy Hill? 
A. JEA has account numbers and contact info in their data base which are utilized for determining affected properties. 

Q. When do you expect the Windy Hill part of the SIPS water project to be completed? 
A. October 2024.  

Q. What is the best phone number or website for Windy Hill residents to use to ask questions about JEA projects?
A. For more information or to reports concerns JEA’s Project Outreach Team at 904-665-7500 or email projectoutreach@jea.com.

Q. Will this new water pipe change the water pressure in our homes? Will the pressure decrease or increase? 
A. We anticipate there will be improved water quality and possibly increased water pressure in the area of the 6-inch distribution line. 

Q. How long until some type of payment will be put down on the dug up portions of Forest Blvd? 
A. The contractor will place temporary asphalt one phase at a time, then they will return to mill & resurface the entire road toward the end of the project. Keep in mind the temporary asphalt can be bumpy so drivers should drive lower construction zone speeds for safety. 

Q. There are black pipes being installed. Why, water pipes are usually light blue?
A. Due to the size of the transmission water main (30-inch), it is made of ductile iron, which is black and very durable. There is blue marking tape on the pipe to help identify the pipe in the future as well as being noted on JEA’s GIS (mapping) records.

Q. There is a lot of land off of Forest Blvd, between 4236 FOREST BLVD and 4272 FOREST BLVD that JEA owns. What is planned for the lot? Is it going to be used for water or sewage? There is a concern for sewage smell in our homes.  
A. There is no sewer work planned for this project, and nothing shown in our plans for this particular lot. Nothing we are doing during this project should cause any sewer odor. This property was purchased for a future potable water well location. More information will be provided prior to the installation of the new well.