North Stonington — A report evaluating the feasibility of wells near exit 92 off Interstate 95 has been completed, finding one suitable location for a communal well on the Shunock River.

Results will be used with a complementary sewer study, to be completed soon, to provide data about potential water and wastewater utilities to companies looking to develop near the intersection of Routes 184 and 2.

The study tested six locations near the commercial development zone along Route 2, also known as Norwich-Westerly Road, near the rotary.

The contractor, groundwater engineering firm Leggette, Brashears and Graham, was tasked with "see(ing) if there was any source of a new water supply that would support future water line or water system in that area," First Selectman Shawn Murphy said at the Aug. 23 meeting of the Board of Selectmen, when the results of the study were announced.

The study was funded with a $200,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Grant that the town received in 2010.

Because different developments have different water needs, Selectman Nick Mullane said the study will allow the town to provide a complete picture of the options available to potential developers.

"If a person comes in to do development, depending on type of business (we're) able to judge the sewer and water ... if there's demand that needs high capability, this pinpoints in different areas where you could put a community water system," he said.

Five of the six parcels were deemed unsuitable for communal wells for a variety of reasons, which included very shallow bedrock and tightly-packed sands or clay, making it difficult to draw much water through the ground. These factors can contribute to lower water production.

While they may be unsuitable for communal wells, they all produced enough water suitable for some stand-alone businesses, Mullane said.

On the sixth site, located on the southeast quadrant of the rotary along the Shunock River and listed for sale, the contractor found that withdrawal of 300 to 500 gallons per minute from a production well appears feasible.

If the town had a developer that wanted or needed a communal well, the town would potentially need to get the water rights from the Town of Westerly, and a diversion permit would be needed from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Diversion permits can be tricky because they take into account the sum total of other development drawing water from the river, said state Rep. Diana Urban, D-North Stonington, who announced the STEAP grant back in 2009.

The report notes that to avoid too much drawdown on the Shunock, there could be mandatory seasonal restrictions.

"Pumping restrictions would likely be imposed during low-flow conditions to protect the river from pumping related impacts," the report read.

n.lynch@theday.com