(Editor's Note: This post was edited at 10:45 p.m. on Dec. 5 to correct and clarify information included in an earlier version.)

Montville - A presentation on a proposed new pipeline that would bring water to Montville High School spurred questions among residents who attended the event at Oakdale Fire Department Thursday.

Town officials have partnered with Middletown-based GHD Consulting to explore putting in a roughly 24,000-foot pipeline starting on Route 163 near Town Hall.

The pipeline is intended to spur economic development by increasing access to water in town, increase public safety by introducing more pressurized water to feed fire hydrants and allow the high school to cease using bottled water.

The pipeline is intended to spur economic development by increasing access to water in town, increase public safety by introducing more pressurized water to feed fire hydrants and allow the high school to cease using bottled water.

The high school has used bottled water for more than two years due to abnormally high levels of manganese in its current well water.

"Water lines bring economic development, they bring tax dollars and they bring jobs," said GHD project director Sarah Cwikla. She said that new pipelines built in 2005 and 2007 resulted in economic expansion.

The gathering was the second in a series of four planned by the town. The next presentation is set for 10 a.m. on Dec. 5 at the Senior Center and the final presentation is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Jan. 8 at the Public Safety Building.

Audience members were curious about how the town would pay for the new pipeline, which will cost $6.8 million to build. Some wanted to know if they would be required to hook up to the new pipeline if it came through their neighborhood.

Water Pollution Control Authority Administrator Brian Lynch said hooking up to the line would be optional, and connection fees would go toward paying down bond debt for building the pipeline to mitigate tax rate increases.

Town Councilor Tim May explained the town would go to bid for construction provided voters approve the pipeline when the proposal goes to referendum.

Also of concern to those in attendance was mention of the high levels of manganese in the high school's well water. Some asked if the water in their neighborhood could be contaminated.

Editor’s note: The following has been corrected to accurately reflect the high school’s water source.

Lynch said that the school does not use the town water system, adding that many neighborhoods in town are also connected to water systems other than that of the town.

The school's water system is supplied by its own well, located on school property. Lynch said houses near the school may receive water from the Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority (SCWA.) Lynch said the town has no authority over SCWA water.

No SCWA customers have reported issues with high levels of manganese, SCWA General Manager Gregory Leonard said Friday.

Residents in attendance were also curious whether there were other options for how to handle a new pipeline. They wanted to know whether other routes could be considered.

One version of the line under consideration would take the line along Route 163, past Montville High School. A second route starts in the same place, then follows Bridge Street and Gayhill and Old Colchester Roads.

May said after the meeting that he believed the second route would provide the most opportunity for greater development.

Town officials have said that route would touch on a piece of property zoned for residential use, which could support up to 200 new homes if the property had access to the proposed pipeline. 

May said Town Planner Marcia Vaun would be invited to the next presentation to answer questions about the relationship between the proposed pipeline and economic development.

t.townsend@theday.com

Twitter: @ConnecticuTess