Vegetation Clearing

There are no areas with significant ecological value in expected reservoir and quarry site. The pump project for water supply purposes also can have vegetation clearing from pipeline alignment, water point area, and quarry site. There will be some permanent changes through laying the pipeline.

Vegetation along expected access routes can also be influenced.

Mitigation Measures

To minimize or eliminate the impacts:

• Minimize land-clearing areas and

• Avoid vegetation clearing by machinery along rights-of-ways.

• Involvement of local committees in tree planting at the village level is recommended for sustainability after the contractor has left.

• Leveling of the site and project areas

• Planting of trees and rehabilitating the construction site once construction is over.

• The design to consider protecting the old standing native trees as much as possible 7.2.2 Excavated Soil and Dust Impacts

Minor air pollution may occur during construction phase by dust generated from machinary moving activities aggravated by wind erosion of the project area. The impact for such project is very small.

Unmanaged disposal of excavated soil can also result in eroded soil particles.

Mitigation Measures

Proposed mitigation measures include the following.

• ensure construction site watering, limiting vehicles speed and cover transported excavated soil and other materials with tarpaulins to manage dust impacts;

• maximize re-use of all excavated soils and materials in the project construction works;

• dispose surplus materials only at designated sites and

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• Dispose of surplus materials (‘’spoil’’) only at designated sites approved by the responsible local authority and only by approved methods, the methods must consider topsoil conservation and quality, in all cases steps must be taken to prevent erosion and maintain the stability of the material after placement.

7.2.3 Land Acquisition by Construction Of Camp Sites and Reservoirs

The multipurpose water supply projects use the land permanents and temporary land restrict for Construction of Camp Sites, bore hole compound, Reservoirs, water point and cattle troughs that restrict the land use patterns of the ownership. The land use system also changed as the new project implement on the previous land use.

Mitigation Measures

Proposed mitigation measures include the following.

o Land of lowest value (non-cultivable and not used for grazing) should be allocated for the contractor’s camp and quarry sites as much as possible;

o All the contractors’ facilities should require best practice management in terms of site cleanliness, waste disposal and social management;

o Before the implementing the infrastructure consult the public on the land acquisition process.

o Replace the same types of land use for the land owner

o Provide adequate compensation for the property loses and damages.

7.2.4. Soil Erosion and Pollution

The construction of the proposed water supply project will involve several activities that can potentially induce soil erosion by constructing activities, construction of water distribution systems, storage facilities, distribution works and pumping station. Most of these activities will remove grasses, destruct topsoil and expose it for soil erosion, soil compaction, soil destabilization and physical impacts. With grass removal and available vegetation cover, erosive action of water gets pronounced and accelerates the process of soil erosion and formation of deep gullies and might leads to increased soil erosion rates especially in hilly areas which can lead to soil instability and landslides. The chemicals contained in drilling fluids and waste materials extracted from drilled wells can also cause soil pollution.

Mitigation measures

Possible mitigation measures to reduce the impacts to acceptable levels are:

• limit the circulation of heavy machinery to minimal areas;

• stabilize the soils in order to reduce potential erosion;

• at the end of construction works, level off the soils and facilitate vegetation re-generation;

• drilling mud to be recycled, disposed of in authorized landfills, or dried and properly mixed with earth and spread in the site vicinity;

• take precaution not to spill fuel, oil & chemicals on soil; and

• replace the excavated soil into the pipeline after stretching

• Consolidating quarry sites and re-vegetating borrow areas will be an important means to avoiding and controlling the potentially high erosion and run-off from these highly disturbed areas.

• Planting trees and grasses on disturbed areas;

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• Reuse the excavated soil from canals and quarries for leveling and filling quarry sites and borrow pits

7.2.5 Waterlogging

Waterlogging and salinization of soils are common problems associated with water point for cattle trough and tap area. The problem is due to continuous overflow of water during the fetching and drinking of cattle by increasing the number of cattle at the same time and, improper water management, and unchecked pipeline.

Mitigation measures

To minimize or eliminate water logging and soil salinity problems off the project command area:

• avoid mixing of different types of cattle with large number-based water demands that serves using single outlet,

• Provision of surface or sub-surface drainage systems;

• Avoid excess application of water by providing basic training on the utilization and management of water,

• Regular maintenance of pipes and canals to control seepage losses is an important control measure

7.2.6 Water Pollution and Contamination

The potential negatively effect on human and animals’ health is immediate downstream areas of water supply projects. It can also disturb ecological balance of the downstream areas. Therefore, the quality of each water sources below each project areas can be deteriorated and makes less fit for domestic water supply and animals watering. The other most likely critical source of rivers water pollution is sedimentation problems.

Mitigation Measures

To minimize or eliminate such possible impacts:

• Conduct periodical environmental monitoring

• Avoidance of water deteriorated points from the project area

• Monitor and prevent releases and leakage of materials/pipeline with the potential to pollute water.

• Protect the entrance of animals within fence on the water point,

• Reduce the mobility of the user by shift arrangement,

• Awareness creates for the community on pollution, sanitation and hygiene 7.2.7 Disturbs Fuana and Flora

The proposed activities do not fall within the dense and highly sensitive area. However, during the construction of camp and absorbing the construction material from the quarry site clearing the vegetation and wildlife from the area which can adversely affect the fauna and flora on the local area. As the number of human increases at the site, they may intend to illegal kill and trade the parts of the wild animals.

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Mitigation measures

To minimize or eliminate possible impacts on aquatic ecosystems:

• Construct and design the camp and bring the construction materials out of the wildlife corridor on suitable area.

• Establish a prohibition on the purchase of wildlife products (e.g. skins, eggs, feathers) by all members of staff and workforce;

• Reduce wildlife disturbance around the project site during the construction, constructor should limit vehicle movement and their Noise.

• using modern construction equipment fitted with noise enclosure, 7.2.8 Waterborne and Water Related Diseases

Introduction of water supply activities aggravate waterborne and water-related diseases pneumonia, Acute Febrile illness and Malaria are among diseases which are directly related to water development whose vectors proliferate in waters. water-related health risks can also be associated with increased uses of water contamination, water quality deterioration and increased population pressure. These risks are introduced or increased most likely by water schemes where soil drainage is poor, pipeline is either cracking, seepage, low quality storage of reservoirs is constructed; if pipeline is stretched out of the laying/ left on the ground, etc.

Mitigation measures

To minimize or eliminate such possible impacts:

• Avoid stagnant water that can serve as breading sites for disease causing vectors;

• Design and construct canals for pipe that allow water flow velocity capable to prevent vector breeding;

• Conduct regular canals monitoring and drain possible vector breeding sites, and

• Avoidance of water deteriorated points from the project area

• Monitor and prevent releases and leakage of materials/pipeline with the potential to pollute water.

• Protect the entrance of animals within fence on the water point,

• Reduce the mobility of the user by shift arrangement,

• strengthen and support capacity building of Woreda health workers, especially in creating conducive working environments in the disease control and prevention.

7.2.9 Water Table Lowering

The proposed project requires pumping of groundwater resources of the areas. Over pumping of groundwater resources will have an impact on ground water table level and its availability to other users around the proposed project area. Long-term impact which can occur over a large area due to over abstraction of the groundwater which is almost impossible to reverse is subsidence of the land surface caused by reduced water pressure in unconsolidated rock. Over pumping of the groundwater in many cases leads lowered groundwater table. Mitigation measures are few and difficult.

Mitigation measures

To manage and lower water table:

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• adjust annual to be pumped water volume in accordance with the aquifer annual refill.

• Enhancing groundwater recharge by applying soil and water conservation works, tree planting, and reduce contamination of water,

• Provide training for the community on the ground water.

7.2.10 Communicable Disease Impacts

The most serious potential adverse social and health impacts of these days are COVID-19 and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV/AIDS due to semi, skilled and laborers man powers mobility. It was identified that there are two HIV/AIDS cases in the project area kebele. It could be exacerbated through spread of the disease by more labor forces, workers and prostitutes attracted to the area. This risk is expected to increase as a result of more workforce immigration by the project.

Mitigation measures

To control such communicable diseases:

• ensure STD/HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 awareness and prevention program into training program for all construction workers and project beneficiaries.

• promoting safe sex awareness and protection for construction and in-flow workforces;

• promote STD/HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 awareness and prevention system to local communities;

and

• initiate & coordinate distribution of anti-retrieval treatments at nearest health center, etc.

7.2.11 Health And Safety For Workers and the Community

There will be a large workforce during the construction. The incoming of heterogeneous health status of the labour force propagates diseases. Efficient sanitation must be maintained and monitored, with provision of health services.

Refuse generated by construction workers, construction spoil material, and other solid waste could have very small adverse impacts on the surrounding environment. The most practical and effective mitigation measure is timely cleanup. In addition, on-site refuse should be stored in closed containers.

Lack of access to clean water prevents progress towards improvements in hygiene and changes in sanitation practices. This can likely prevent development activities due to ill-health. Poor sanitary conditions might contribute to rapid disease transmission. Environmental sanitation problems and water supply shortage can aggravate environmental health problems of communities of the proposed project area.

Mitigation Measures

To eliminate or minimize possible Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene right:

• Manage the wastes based on the three Rs (reduce, re-use, recycle)

• Providing training for all contractor’s personnel

• Minimize the production of waste that must be treated or eliminated

• Control placement of all construction waste to disposal sites

• strengthen health and environmental sanitation awareness for the project beneficiaries.

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• Community sensitization on the dangers of construction activities.

• Provision of treated mosquito nets to workers.

• Regulated speed and enforcement of speed limits for project workers as well as other drivers to minimize accidents.

• Ensure tender documents include standard best practice clauses for topics ranging from accommodation to waste management and quarry and borrow-pit operation and closure;

• phases.

7.2.12 Improper Workers Camping Site Impacts

Construction workers campsites are among environmental and social considerations areas. They are important locations that have significant impacts such as health and safety hazards on local resources, infrastructure of nearby communities and on the communities themselves.

Mitigation Measures

In order to harmonize the construction workers camp site related impacts, the Contractor shall:

• Locate construction camps at environmentally, socially, etc. acceptable sites.

• Locate workers camp away from communities’ settlements in order to avoid social conflicts, natural resources damages and minimize disease transmissions, etc.

• Inform local authorities responsible for health, religious and security so as to maintain effective surveillance over public health, social and security matters.

7.2.13 Occupational Safety and Health Hazards

Construction workers may be affected adversely by hazardous working environments where high noise, dust, unsafe movement of machinery etc. may present. Proper workers safety and procedures and equipment should always be made available in order to ensure safe working conditions such areas in relation to hygienic facility’s needs, appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and accident-free construction activities working environment.

Mitigation measures

The impacts can be eliminated and/or minimized by:

• Provide personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the workers to wear like masks, helmets, jackets, gloves, eye glass, shoe and presence of first aid kits during working hours

• Instructing construction workers on health and safety materials uses.

• Ensuring that all operators of heavy machinery are properly trained and insured.

• Providing first aid facilities, equip with emergency and transport facilities to nearest health services in case of accident.

• Promoting workers awareness on using health and occupational safety.

• Avoiding female workers from working in jobs related to hazardous areas of the construction activities, and

• Avoiding gender discrimination, inequality, etc.

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7.2.14 Conflicts on Resource Use

All inhabitants of the project area expect to have plots of irrigable lands which they previously do not have within the project command area. In addition to normal water use problems, conflicts may exist with those community members that assume themselves owners of the proposed project command areas and those who do not have such irrigable lands.

Mitigation measures

To promote community livelihood enhancements and control such resource use-based conflicts:

• any communal resource uses among beneficiaries shall be guided by a committee composed of project beneficiaries’ representatives, and

• promote community awareness on water utilization and management, livelihood enhancement and harmonize any negative effects of the planned development with the existing project area ecological, social and economic environmental conditions.

• Implement the local conflict resolution mechanism at early stage by the elders and clan leaders,

• Provided the capacity building for the water user committee on the management skill 7.2.15 Impacts Associated With Drilling

The groundwater development for water supply requires construction of many wells in identified well fields of Borena, East and West Guji DRSLP-II project Woredas. This will be executed through the application of drilling fluids that can likely cause groundwater contamination and other related impacts.

During drilling works; drilling fluid, drilling mud, mud additives and other chemicals associated with drilling can have impacts on the surrounding environment. Bacteriological or chemical contamination of aquifers can be occurring by drilling equipment. Greasing of drilling equipment can also cause soil contamination if appropriate care is not taken. Sites near well fields can be affected by drilling that has aesthetic and visual effects. If wastewaters from such well fields are directed to nearby water body, it can also likely to pollute surface water bodies.

Mitigation measures

These impacts can be reduced through:

• use of biodegradable drilling fluids and mud additives;

• drain immediate surroundings of water wells to avoid infiltration of contaminated water;

• restore the site affected by drilling to its initial condition;

• dry drilling fluid of the site, mix with earth and spread over the site;

• construct properly designed and water tight well heads with proper pump sealing to well heads;

• pump and other equipment submerged into wells need initially disinfected and at each extraction;

• ensure safe hazardous materials management (hydrocarbons, chemical products, etc.);

7.2.16 Potential Leaks

During operation phase, potential leaks may occur from transmission and distribution pipelines that might cause health risks associated with standing water. Regular follow up and monitoring is required to

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avoid such impacts. Major impacts from operation and maintenance of water pipes are associated with repair and replacement activities when there are leaks or breaks on pipes.

Mitigation measures

Possible mitigation measure in minimizing impacts to acceptable level is by:

• establishing leaks detection mechanical or system, and

• replacing old pipes to minimize leaks and minimize or eliminate water supply interruption.

7.3 Evaluation of Project Impacts Significance

Identification of impacts significance and analysis is the core element in an ESIA process. It involves impact identification, prediction and evaluation. The most possible potential impacts associated with design, construction and operation phases of Oromia National Regional State DRSLP-II project activities were identified using professional judgments. Based on these factors; the identified impacts of the intended pump and water distribution for multipurpose projects on environmental resources of the project area were evaluated and predicted to evaluate the impacts with and without the projects.

The identified impacts were evaluated to determine their significance by using typical parameters; type (beneficial and adverse), duration, nature (temporary and permanent), magnitude and significance through the project development phases as presented in Table 7.1. The impacts were evaluated to determine their significance by using parameters help to determine the impacts magnitude, likelihood, spatial and temporal extent, the likely degree of recovery of the affected environment, the level of public concern and the political repercussions. Spatial and temporal extent, the natural resources carrying capacity and possible potential environmental sustainability as a result of the impacts of the identified parameters were done. Based on these factors, the most possible impacts of the project on the environmental resources and the socio-economic conditions of the project area were evaluated.

Forecasting of the main identified impacts was also done to assume the impacts with and without the planned DRSLP-II EP of the Oromia Region multipurpose community water supply projects shown table 7.1 below.

All possible critical environmental and social issues were evaluated and possible mitigation measures that can eliminate and/or minimize expected adverse impacts were included. Finally, the assessment came up with conclusions that the project is environmentally feasible if the recommended mitigation measures are properly implemented and managed.

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Table 7. 1: Potential impacts characterization and evaluation interactive matrix

Table 7. 1: Potential impacts characterization and evaluation interactive matrix

Dans le document Main Report of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment /ESIA/ (Page 52-0)