7. IMPACTS IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS,
7.2 Potential Negative Impacts & Mitigation Measures on Using Water Supply System
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
N0 Potential Impacts
Characterization Evaluation
Type Duration Area Extent
Nature Probability of Occurrence
Magnitude Significance
Beneficial Adverse Short term Long term Localized Extensive Direct Indirect Low Moderate High Low Moderate High Low Moderate High
I. Impacts on Physical Environment
1.1 Excavated soil and dust impacts
x x x x x x x
1.3 Soil erosion x x x x x x x
1.5 Waterlogging and salination x x x x x x x
1. Impact on physical Environment
1.1 Pollution and contamination x x x x x x x x
1.2 Water table lowering x x x x x x x
1.3 Impacts associated with drilling
x x x x x x x
1.4 Potential leaks x x x x x x x
2. Impacts on Biological Environment
2.1 Vegetation clearing x x x x x x x
2.2 Disturbs fauna and flora x x x x x x x
2.3 Drainage paths chocking impact
x x x x x x x
3. Impacts on Social Environment
3.1 Employment opportunities x x x x x x x x
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N0 Potential Impacts
Characterization Evaluation
Type Duration Area Extent
Nature Probability of Occurrence
Magnitude Significance
Beneficial Adverse Short term Long term Localized Extensive Direct Indirect Low Moderate High Low Moderate High Low Moderate High
3.2 Livelihood and food security enhancement
x x x x x x x x
3.3 Entrepreneurships Promotion
x x x x x x x x
3.4 water sector development x x x x x x x
3.5 Promotes modern technological practice
x x x x x x x x
3.6 Creates indirect benefits x x x x x x x
3.7 Promotes production &
economic benefits
x x x x x x x
3.8 Waterborne and water related diseases
x x x x x x x
3.9 Communicable disease impacts
x x x x x x x
3.10 Impact on land use rights x x x x x x x
3.11 Health and Sanitary issues x x x x x x x
3.12 Improper workers camping site impacts
x x x x x x x
3.13 Occupational safety and health hazards
x x x x x x x
3.14 Conflicts on resource use x x x x x x x
3.15 Impacts on water supply x x x x x x x
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8. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION CONSULTATIONS
The stakeholder and public consultation was undertaken by aiming at ensuring the quality, comprehensiveness and effectiveness of the environmental assessment of the water infrastructure projects of DRSLP-II target Woredas of Oromia National Regional State. It ensures consideration of interested and affected parties views and concerns. The approaches used were conducting meetings with key stakes and the public or kebele community representatives (minute and participants lists are annexed).
8.1 Stakeholders Identification and Consultation
The Ethiopian Construction Design and Supervision Corporation-Water Sector study team for the DRSLP-II Feasibility Study and Detail Design of Multi-purpose Water Infrastructures Projects of the Oromia National Region State program undertook stakeholders’ consultations in the project target five Woredas and in more 95% of the 25 project target kebelles during the inception phase study and also in four (Arero, Girja, Liben and Goro Dolla) Woredas in more detail where gaps were identified during the feasibility phase study.
In consulting key stakeholders, identification of the potential role players were identified at the inception phase and during the detail feasibility studies based on EIA guideline (EPA, 2000) of the country. Based on the guideline, the main once are the proponent, the consultant, interested and affected parties and the Competent Agency (EPA, 2000).
Accordingly, the stakeholders and project area community representatives’ consultations aim at ensuring the quality, comprehensiveness and effectiveness of the environmental and social assessment of the project and also considerations of interested and affected parties views and concerns. The approaches can be through focus group discussions and meetings of which minute and lists of participants shall be annexed. Few of the consulted stakes are presented in Figure 8.1 below and annexed. Therefore, to have their views and consents, the consultant project team undertook consultations with:
• The National Project Coordination staffs of the Ministry of Agriculture
• Oromia National Regional State Pastoralist Development Commission DRSLP Project coordination unit,
• East Guji Zone DRSLP-II Coordination Unit
• West Guji Zone DRSLP-II Coordination unit
• Borena Zone DRSLP-II Coordination Unit
• Each of the five targeted Woredas; and
• Among the 25 project targeted kebelles 22 kebeles or almost all targeted DRSLP-II project kebelles pastoralist representatives were consulted.
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The consultative meetings were conducted by introducing the project objectives, identifying project benefits, threats, and participants perceive of the projects and their recommendations on how to mitigate expected possible threats of the proposedmultipurpose community water supply projects to harmonize with planned development activities and the environment of the area. The participants freely discussed and forwarded their expectations and concerns including threats of the project in transparent manner. Key findings from the consultations are summarized below.
Figure 8. 1: Participants of few consultative meetings
DRSLP-II Study team and Girja WoredaOfficials Arero community representatives
Gura Hirboro kebelle community memebers Melka Soda village of soda garmame pastoralists representatives consultation
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Project briefing to Goro Dola Woreda Administrator and startup of DRSLP Inception Phase project Study
8.2 Major Findings
It was identified from the stakeholders’ consultations that:
• Although hand dug wells were dug for water supply in many sites, they are not currently working and if at all functional, they also have water shortages.
• In most cases community members’ travel more than 2-3 hours a day to find water for domestic purposes.
• Although water may be found, the qualities are poor and are not reliable, and
• Unless capacitated the existing water supply points or find alternative water supply sources such as deep wells and rivers during the feasibility phase study, the community demands for domestic and livestock water supply cannot be addressed.
8.2.1 Project Benefits
Consulted stakeholders and community representatives expressed major benefits of the project. They expressed that the project:
• Creates job opportunity for many citizens during project construction and operation phases;
• Creates opportunity for down streamers for using the water sources for domestic purposes
• Creates opportunity for down streamers for using the water sources for domestic purposes