African Development Bank

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

Liberia Water Supply and Sanitation Rehabilitation Programme

Environmental and Social Management Plan

AUGUST 2007

Prepared by Kolleh A. Bangura

Contributors: Mr S. Wassel (Ag. Manager, OWAS 1 - AfDB Tunis) Mr M. S. Kanu (M & E Officer MoHS – Sierra Leone) Mr C. Momoh (LWSC) Monrovia Mr W. Warner (LWSC) Monrovia LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS AfDB African Development Bank (Fund) AWQMS Automatic Water Quality Monitoring System CTBT Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty CTU Cholera Treatment Unit CU Colour Unit CWSDF Comprehensive Water Sector Development Framework DFID Department of Foreign and International Development DLTW Diarrhoea in the Last Three Weeks EC European Commission EPA Environmental Protection Agency ESMP Environmental and Social Management Plan ESP Environmental and Social Procedure EU European Union GDP Gross Domestic Product HGV Heavy Goods Vehicles IEC Information Education Communication IPRS Interim Poverty Reduction Strategies IQ Intelligence Quoscence LD Liberia Dollar LISGIS Liberian Institute of Statistics and Geo-information Services LWSC Liberian Water and Sewer Coporation MCC Monrovia City Corporation MGD Million Gallons a Day MHSW Ministry of Health and Social Welfare MLME Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy MOF Ministry of Finance MPEA Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs MPW Ministry of Public Works MRD Ministry of Rural Development MSF Medicines Sans Frontiers MWSSIRP Monrovia Water Supply and Sanitation Immediate Rehabilitation Programme NGO Non Governmental Organisation NW North West OWAS Office of Water and Sanitation PT Project Team RDA Rural Development Authority SE North East TA Technical Assistant STD Sexually Transmitted Diseases TNTC Too Numerous To Count UA Unit of Account UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund USAID United States Aid and International Development USD United States Dollar WASH Water Sanitation and Hygiene WB The World Bank WHO World Health Organisation WPWTP White Plains Water Treatment Plant

2 | P a g e Table of Contents

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS LIST OF TABLES TABLE OF FIGURES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.0 Introduction 1.1 The purpose and scope of the ESMP 1.2 Methodology and strategies 2.0 Brief description of the program and key environmental and social components 2.1 Component 1: Waterworks rehabilitation 2.2 Component 2: Sanitation Facilities 2.3 Component 3: Capacity Building 2.4 Socioeconomic Conditions 2.5 Gender Roles 2.6 Human Environment 2.61 Climate 2.62 Ecology 2.63 Geology 2.64 Hydrology 2.65 Soil and Vegetation 2.66 The Saint Paul Watershed 2.67 Water resources 2.68 Water sources of Monrovia 2.69 The Water quality 2.70 Groundwater reserve and the geological structure 2.71 Water using sectors in Monrovia 2.72 Sanitation Resources 2.73 Water Quality and Hydrology 2.74 City planning 3.0 Major environmental and social impacts 3.1 The immediate social impacts/benefits 3.2 Impacts Associated with the Programme Location, Planning and Design 3.3 Impacts associated with the rehabilitation of water supply facilities 3.4 Impacts Associated with the Rehabilitation of the Sanitation system 3.5 Impacts associated with the operation of the water supply system 3.6 Impacts of the Operation of the Sanitation System 4.0 Enhancement and mitigation 4.1 Enhancement of Monrovia living environment 4.2 Mitigation of impacts arising from the rehabilitation and operation of water supply system 4.3 Rehabilitation and operation of the sanitation system 5.0 Environmental and Social Monitoring of the program and complementary initiatives 5.1 Environmental Monitoring 5.2 Environmental Management and Institutional Requirements 5.4 Legal Requirement of the Government 5.5 Public Participation during Project Preparation 5.6 Future Public Participation Plans 5.7 Estimated costs 6.0 Institutional arrangements and capacity building requirements 6.1 Government Agencies 6.2 Draft Environmental Policies and Laws 6.3 International Environment Agreements Signed By Liberia 6.4 Gaps in Water Management 6.5 Sector Reform 5.6 Training plan 7.0 Public consultations and disclosure requirements 8.0 Implementation schedule and reporting

ANNEX 1: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN SUMMARY ANNEX 2: EPA Environmental Assessment Form ANNEX 3: Implementation schedule 3 | P a g e ANNEX 4. Abbreviated Compensation plan: Monrovia Water Supply and Sanitation programme

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Analysis of male/female employees at LWSC...... 16 Table 2: Common fish species captured at the White Plains Reach of the St Paul River...... 27 Table 4: Objectives and Service Delivery Areas - Water and Sanitation Rehabilitation Phase ...... 63 Table 5: Objectives and Service Delivery Areas - Project Operational Phase...... 69 Table 6: Functional Training Plan...... 78 Table 7: Consultation plan...... 80

TABLE OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Map of Liberia showing its 15 counties...... 7 Figure 2: Most prevalent diseases in Montserrado (Source WHO 2003)...... 13 Figure 3: Water vendors in Central Monrovia (Photograph Kolleh Bangura)...... 14 Figure 4: Climate Parameters of Monrovia...... 18 Figure 5: Satellite image of Western Liberia showing its current vegetation cover...... 20 Figure 6: Accelerated Soil Erosion in Paynesville highway (Photograph Kolleh Bangura)...20 Figure 7: Sandstone outcrop exposed at Paynesville; (Photograph Kolleh Bangura)...... 22 Figure 8: Limestone outcrop in North Paynesville (Photograph Kolleh Bangura)...... 22 Figure 9: Map of the Elevation and Hydrology of Liberia...... 24

4 | P a g e EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Monrovia is the capital city of Liberia, located on the West Coast of Africa. The city is almost surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Montserrado River. It was a prosperous economic zone in the sub region until it was destroyed by a civil war. The economy of Monrovia is currently crippled as a consequence of the long civil war. The Monrovia water supply and sewerage system is one of the most critical infrastructure items that were devastated during the war. At present, the sewage pumping stations, the treatment plant, transmission mains, distribution lines and sewerage network are substantially inoperable, yielding minimal capacity to supply consumption requirements. According to the African Development Bank Office of Water and Sanitation (OWAS) February 2007 Liberia water and sanitation sector appraisal report, the municipal water supply coverage in Monrovia is estimated at 11% and sanitation facilities are available to roughly only 7% of the population. As a result of the unsanitary conditions, over 30% of a family’s resources are spent on treatment of sick family members who suffer from water-borne and sanitation related diseases. The development of urban infrastructure following the end of the war has not kept pace with the urban population growth, resulting in deterioration of the available water supply sources and urban environment to a point where economic development and the quality of life are at risk. Some ongoing restoration works to the water supply system by the Economic Community (EC) of the European Union (EU) and World Bank (WB) is responsible for limited treated water supplied to the population. Other water sector aid agencies assisted in the construction and ongoing maintenance of 5000 shallow wells which are supplemented by other sources including water vendors, rainwater collection and some polluted open sources. With the congested living conditions, the water supply shortage has become a serious difficulty for the city. The existing self supplied water is inadequate and unacceptable.

Meanwhile, through several donors the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved a loan of UA 16.83 million (USD 24.83 million) for: (i) rehabilitation of Monrovia water supply from its current 11% coverage to 50% pre-war coverage (ii) rehabilitation of the sanitation system to expand its service from the current 7% to 17% and (iii) a functional and training capacity building component to strengthen LWSC ability to deliver the programme. The contributing donors are: The United Kingdom’s Department of Foreign and International Development (DFID) UA 3.99 million, EC UA 5.72 millions, WB UA 7.09 million. The Liberian Government is contributing UA 0.03 million. The AfDB/DFID activities are envisaged to take about 28 months commencing October 2007 with a target completion date of February 2010. The first three months will be used for the setting up, equipment and staffing the PT and recruiting and mobilizing the Technical Assistant experts and engineering consultants. Thereafter, the activities will be followed by the engineering consultants to review the scope of the rehabilitation works and preparation of designs and tender documents. These activities are expected to take seven months, resulting in various contract packages, the first of which will be ready for tendering within in two months after mobilisation of the engineering consultants. Bidding process for procurement of works and goods will then take three months. The physical implementation is expected to commence after one month of contracts award and last for 18 months thereafter. The schedule for implementation is attached in Annex 3

The main focus of the AfDB/DFID contribution to the project will be in financing the rehabilitation of the water distribution system with substantial contribution in upgrading the sanitation facilities. AfDB/DFID will also play the leading role in capacity building and management requirements of the programme. The WB will take the responsibility for the rehabilitation works of water treatment plant with considerable contribution in sanitation

5 | P a g e facilities. The EC will mainly contribute towards the rehabilitation of the transmission pipelines. The AfDB/DFID activities are envisaged to take about 28 months commencing November 2007 with a target completion date of February 2010.

With the project, groundwater extraction will be diminished to sustainable yields and shallow wells as water sources will be placed on standby status to meet maximum-daily and emergency non drinkable water requirements. The project activities will support the AfDB- funded Liberia project, providing safe drinking water and sanitation facilities in the city of Monrovia and its surroundings areas, thus (i) minimizing the incidence and prevalence of water borne diseases, raise the standard of living of the people of Monrovia and increase their economic output; and (ii) improving the local environment and institutional capacity for LWSC, and overall capacity for water and sanitation provision for the city. The project will make a significant contribution towards the improvement of the socio economic well being, quality of life and health standards of the population of Metropolitan Monrovia through provision of sustainable water and sanitation services.

6 | P a g e Figure 1: Map of Liberia showing its 15 counties 1.0 Introduction

The ESMP outlines the Monrovia Water Supply and Sanitation Rehabilitation Programme components by which the environmental and social aspects are managed by the contractors working in the rehabilitation of the water and sanitation facilities and LWSC who will be operating the rehabilitated facilities. The ESMP has been prepared with the following features:  Environmental and social management are integrated into the project  The management system is multilevel and interagency and takes cognisance of the way the Programme components and activities are organised  The management system is dynamic and accommodate change and movement

7 | P a g e  The environment and social management components i.e. risk/impact and mitigation take advantage of elements which are common in public health and safety, project compliance, security of infrastructure and staff and government and public affairs where appropriate and  Consultation with the stakeholders A summary of the key components of the ESMP is presented in Annex 1

1.1 The purpose and scope of the ESMP

The purpose of developing the ESMP is for the Programme is to ensure compliance with the AfDB project environment and social objectives during the rehabilitation and operational phases of the water supply and sanitation facilities. The ESMP is part of the overall management framework. It has been prepared in consideration of a management system configured by AfDB and donor partners. In order to provide a framework in mitigating and monitoring of Environmental and social aspects and impacts within the rehabilitation and operational phases of the water and sanitation systems of Monrovia the scope of the ESMP covers all rehabilitation activities for the associated water and sanitation facilities within the project i.e. Water supply rehabilitation  Rehabilitation of the White Plains Treatment Plant  Rehabilitation of Transmission Mains Pumping stations and Reservoirs  Rehabilitation of Distribution Networks Sanitation rehabilitation  Rehabilitation of sewerage network  Purchase of a vacuum truck  Construction of Public pit latrines  Rehabilitation of public pit latrines  Jetting Equipment  Rehabilitation of stabilization pond  The environment of Monrovia  Sensitization campaign Capacity building  functional training and consumer enumeration update  Logistics and software

As well as addressing the operational activities for which and over which LWSC has direct control the ESMP considers those with the institutions (both political and non political institutions) can exert significant influence including the management and social performance of the rehabilitation activities of contractors.

1.2 Methodology and strategies The procedures of Social and Environmental assessments are necessary to help ensure that the Monrovia Water and Sanitation Rehabilitation Programme will accomplish its development goals (for example, poverty reduction; enhancement of the role of women in development; human resources development, including planning; and avoiding or mitigating negative effects on vulnerable groups, and protecting these groups). By addressing specific development goals in the preparation of the ESMP, the Government of Liberia, African Development Bank and donors can help ensure that the project’s benefits are realized and negative social and environmental impacts are minimized. The ESMP aims to bring the programme into compliance with applicable Liberian national environmental and social legal requirements and the African Development Bank’s environmental and social policies. 8 | P a g e Another objective of the ESMP is to outline the mitigating, monitoring, consultative and institutional measures required to prevent, minimize, mitigate or compensate for adverse environmental and social impacts, or to enhance the project beneficial impacts. It also addresses capacity building requirements to strengthen the borrower’s environmental and social capacities. Some aspects of the social, economic and environmental interests of the ESMP were obtained using a triangulation methodology i.e. by consulting with several sources: the programmes beneficiaries, implementers and donors, and cross checking and putting together all these interests. This was achieved through various consultations, household surveys, focus group interviews, review of government, donor and other relevant water and sanitation sector reports, policies and documents.

2.0 Brief description of the program and key environmental and social components

The programme creates an enabling environment for Liberia Water and Sewer Coporation (LWSC) to restore some of the city’s water and sanitation services. The water and sanitation facilities of Monrovia were severely damaged during Liberia’s long civil war. The resulting

9 | P a g e lack of adequate water supply and sanitation provision has resulted to the people of Monrovia consuming water from contaminated sources which increases the incidence and prevalence of water borne diseases, lowered the standard of living and decreased economic output. The programme will improve the local environment and overall capacity for water and sanitation provision for the city. The programme will rebuild LWSC’s capacity and provide resources for the rehabilitation of the water and sanitation infrastructure to enable the agency to supply water to 750,000 people by early 2010 and provide sewage services to 300,000 people at the same time. The Programme is classified in the environmental category 2 in accordance with AfDB Environmental and Social Procedures (ESP). The proposed African Development Bank intervention constitutes the first phase of the bank’s intended engagement in Liberia’s near-term water and sanitation rehabilitation efforts. The outputs of the rehabilitation efforts will result in restoring at least 50% of pre-war water production and sanitation facility access, which will equate to an ambitious 9.0 M gallons a day. There are three main components within the envisioned intervention - (1) water works rehabilitation (2) sewerage systems rehabilitation, and (3) capacity building The programme has the following components:

2.1 Component 1: Waterworks rehabilitation This component involves the rehabilitation of the White Plains Treatment Plant; rehabilitation of transmission mains pumping stations and reservoirs; rehabilitation of distribution networks and the provision of spare parts and consumables. The White Plains water treatment plant will increase its production from 7,500 m3/day (2million gallon/day) to 30,283 m3/day (8 million gallon/day). The rehabilitation works will include civil works and electro-mechanical equipment for various units of the plant; including raw water intake, dosing unit, flocculation/mixing basin, settling tanks, sand filters, and high lift pumps as well as for buildings (World Bank will take the lead in the WT rehabilitation).

The rehabilitation of the transmission pipelines will involve 75 km pipelines with various diameters ranging from 12 inch to 36 inch together with pipe accessories and valve champers. The rehabilitation works will include three reservoirs, one pumping station and one booster station as well as rehabilitation of the access road on the Paynesville line. The rehabilitation of the distribution network will cover more than 200 km secondary and tertiary pipes in the following areas: (i) Paynesville Community, (ii) Congo Town/Old Road Communities, (iii) Sinkor /Airfield Communities, (iv) Bushrod Island Community, (v) Central Monrovia Community. The DFID component will cover part of the different rehabilitation works

Rehabilitation of the treatment plant to 50% or more of functional capacity by August 31, 2009, 75 Km of mainlines and over 200 Km of secondary and tertiary distribution lines are to be rehabilitated by the end of August 31, 2009. Rehabilitation of distribution network in 5 districts of Central Monrovia, is proposed to be completed by August 31, 2009. This component will also include provision of spare parts and fittings for pipe and equipment for the first two years to ensure technical sustainability of the services.

2.2 Component 2: Sanitation Facilities This component will comprise major cleaning and repair works of the waste stabilization pond (with an area of 26,000 m2) and the sewer network. Activities will include brushing of weeds, desludging of all facilities and necessary remedies that will facilitate sludge reception from public/private toilets for treatment. The sanitation facilities to be provided include construction of 110 public toilet blocks to be placed at vantage locations in the city and in markets, schools and hospitals. A provision is made to supply maintenance equipment including a vacuum truck, a sewer rodding machine, along with the necessary tools.

10 | P a g e 2.3 Component 3: Capacity Building

The capacity building subcomponent will comprise immediate capacity enhancement needs in the form skills upgrading and training as well as conducting focused studies as part of system development activities. The studies will cover: (i) Functional Training and consumer enumeration update (ii) Logistics and software including provision of office equipment and facilities namely: 2 pick-up vehicles, 6 computers, a photocopier, a blue print machine, training tools, water quality test kit and communication instruments.

A budgetary provision has been made to undertake environmental sensitization campaigns. The campaigns aim at emphasizing the linkage between improved health and water, as well as at improving the environmental sanitation situation in the project areas through the promotion of individual latrines, personal hygiene, and proper maintenance of public toilets.

MWSSRP is aiming at: 1) Carrying out significant contribution towards the improvement of the socio economic well being, quality of life and health standards of the population of Metropolitan Monrovia through provision of sustainable water and sanitation services and improvement of the capacity of LWSC to operate and maintain water and sewerage systems on sustainable basis.

The Program is classified in the environmental category 2 in accordance with AfDB Environmental and Social Procedures. The program activities are aiming at rehabilitating water supply (mainly point sources and simple piped schemes) and sanitation facilities that are well demarcated and will not affect significantly, taken individually, any sensitive environmental areas or social issues.

2.4 Socioeconomic Conditions

The project area is within the administration zone of the Monrovia Municipal Government, which consists of five urban districts namely Paynesville community, Sinkor, central Monrovia, Bushrod Island and Congo Town. At the end of 2006, the total permanent population for the whole municipality of Monrovia was approximately 1.7 million people.

The economy of Liberia operates at about one-third of the pre-war level, with a GDP of less than US$500 million compared to over US$1,000 million in 1988. The economic performance of the manufacturing industry is 4.4%. Total debt recorded during the second quarter of 2005 was US$3,600 million, total domestic debt of US$377.2 million (MOF 2005). This equates to USD114.3 per capita.

The economy of Liberia is weak. GDP per capita was US$166.5 in 1998, US$169 in 1999, US$199 in 2000 and US$163 in 2001. On top of that, Liberia has a per capita debt burden of more than US$1,000. This economic situation is affecting the lives of many people. In 1999, Liberia ranked 174 out of 175 countries on the UNDP Human Development Index. It is estimated that over 76 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line. GDP per capita (US$ and PPP$) ---158.06 External debt (US$) as percent of GDP ---707.8%

With less than 50 industrial enterprises, Monrovia is an impoverished city. Its major industrial services include hotel businesses, petty trading, and the rubber processing industry, the Liberian Brewery, construction materials, drinks industry and service industries.

The water supply for Monrovia comes mainly from approximately 5000 shallow wells and two deep wells. One municipal water treatment plant serve only 17% of urban Monrovia. 11 | P a g e With the congested living conditions, the water supply shortage has become a serious difficulty for the city. There is a shortage of public water supply. The existing self supplied water is inadequate and unacceptable. Water supply and sanitation sources are distant, difficult to access and contaminated. Water from most of the shallow wells is undrinkable because of bad taste and salt water intrusion.

Many diseases are associated with inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene. At anyone time, close to half of urban Monrovia were suffering from one or more of the main diseases associated with inadequate water and sanitation provision. UNICEF has plotted 8 diarrhoea hotspots in the city.

The Cholera Treatment Unit (CTU) at John F. Kennedy Medical Centre treats diarrhoeal cases suspected to be cholera. The centre has treated 72 cases between August 1 and August 27, 2007. West Point has the highest number of cases. Out of the 72 cases 26 needed admission and 46 were treated on out-patient basis.

The majority (70%) of people admitted in the CTU obtain water from shallow wells. Some of the households of West Point use septic tanks which are suspected to be the main sources of water contamination within the locality. West Point is also low-lying and floods very frequently, which is another source of shallow wells water contamination. However, this does not suggest that water is the only source of diarrhoeal infections. The route of transmission is complex but in most cases the first case is a victim of foul water consumption.

The following are the water sources of the areas with high incidents of waterish diarrhoea: rainwater, pipe borne, hand pump wells and open wells. CTU now disinfect households that report waterish diarrhoeal illnesses with chlorine. They also do health education on hygiene promotion. Prior to the current high incidents of waterish diarrhoea, MSF was supporting the CTU. Since MSF pulled out the centre no longer has adequate support. Only few IV infusions were available at the time of visit by the mission. Disinfection of the unit is very inadequate, and the workers have no protective clothing.

The reasons for the persistence of these diseases are: some (83%) due to poor water quality; others associated with inadequate quantity of water available to households; with inadequate hygiene or hygienic food preparation practices and inadequate provision for excreta disposal or wastewater disposal.

Sewerage lines in central Monrovia have burst and sewage spills directly in the streets. The flow of raw sewage along residential areas contributes to food and water contamination brings the risk of oral-faecal contamination in central Monrovia to very high. Streets like Mechlin Street, Water Street, Randall and Centre streets suffer from the stench of sewage leaking into the streets.

Diarrhoeal diseases are the most common and account for a high proportion of infant, child and adult illness- and for most water-related infant and child deaths especially among children less than five years of age.

Because water supplies and provision for sanitation are inadequate for much of a city’s population, faecal- oral disease are among the most serious health problems for the whole city Over-crowding and inadequate food hygiene exacerbates the risks from contaminated water and poor sanitation; it is common for there to be three people per room in tenement in Monrovia, cheap zinc-body houses and informal settlements where most low-income urban settlers dwell.

12 | P a g e In slumps around Central Monrovia people have illegally built settlements near sewage outfalls or what used to be overflow outlets to relieve sewage lift pumps but are now sewage outlets. Water washed diseases associated with a lack of water supplies for washing, and includes various skin and eye infections such as scabies and trachoma.

Observation walks during the ESMP study observed children and adults bathing and swimming in the sewage outfalls of PHP/BTC community through Center Street.

The sewage is discharging directly into this part of the Monrovia coastline due to sewage system/network failure. Most water-borne diseases are also water-washed, as their incidence is associated with inadequate water supplies as well as contaminated water. Inadequate drainage pose particular problems for children who tend to play wherever there is open land or interesting opportunity for exploration and who may be drawn to play in standing water and in drainage ditches.

Malaria, often considered a rural disease, is now among the main causes of illness and death among children and adults in Monrovia (14% incidence rate) as shown in Figure 2 below.

Some infrastructure works in Monrovia also contribute substantially to mosquito breeding. The cellars of buildings whose construction remain unfinished because of war or destroyed during the war have become extensive breeding places during the rainy season.

Viral diseases including yellow fever are related to poor drainage or to solid waste and also small domestic water collectors. The latter is the result of inadequate water supplies, which force people to keep drinking water containers in their homes.

Many other disease vectors such as vermin thrive due to poor drainage and inadequate provision for rubbish collection, sanitation and piped water-including house flies, fleas, lice and cockroaches.

The health burden linked to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene is, not surprisingly, heavily concentrated in Monrovia. Infectious diarrhoea, according to the CTU is probably the largest contributor to the disease burden from water, sanitation and hygiene- although it is also transmitted through food and air.

Figure 2: Most prevalent diseases in Montserrado (Source WHO 2003)

13 | P a g e Many households in Monrovia use water vendors as a source of their drinking water. The water vendors line-up on water queues to fetch water. Inhabitants of Central Monrovia have to buy water from water vendors. Some people with tap water also sell water to people without in order to pay for their water bills LWSC.

The average price of water in Central Monrovia per USA gallon is LD 5 (USD 0.08). On average households in Central Monrovia buy 12-15 gallons per day (LD 60 – LD 75) i.e. (USD 1.00 – USD 1.25). This amount of water is not adequate for sanitation and other domestic uses therefore toilets are left un-flushed for most of the day. Because majority of people cannot afford to buy water they resort to drinking contaminated water.

Water vendors play a key role to the supply of water in Monrovia, especially to those who cannot afford to walk long distances very early in the morning to fetch water. However, water supplied by vendors is prone to contamination due to handling and storage as well as mode of transportation. Figure 3, a photograph of water vendors taken during the mission illustrates this fact very well. Water is stored in containers that are not regularly disinfected or cleaned and these containers pass through several hands, homes and streets. Some areas where the water containers are exchanged or kept have sewage spillage problems.

Figure 3: Water vendors in Central Monrovia (Photograph Kolleh Bangura)

14 | P a g e Meanwhile, currently the city of Monrovia and indeed the economy of Liberia survive largely on humanitarian aid and a vibrant informal sector. Unemployment stands at 85 per cent, with 1.4 million people living in abject poverty (US$0.50 per person per day). Total debt recorded during the second quarter of 2005 was US$3,600 million, total domestic debt of US$377.2 million (MOF 2005). Therefore the direct cost of water adds on to the burden of poverty amongst the unemployed and the low income families.

There are large costs relating to the time and money lost to oral-faecal and other water related diseases. The medical cost and lost wages from water related diseases are a high part of the household income for the poor.

Children bear much the greatest burden of ill health and premature death from diseases related to inadequate water. Many children in Monrovia die every day from preventable diseases related to the inadequate provision of water. Many more live with repeated bouts of diarrhoea, warm infestations, skin infections, malnutrition and chronically challenged immune systems as a result of unsanitary living environment. The effects are long term and will include most physical and mental stunting. This violates the rights of children – to survival and health, development and to a decent standard of living.

Long term impact for children is not restricted to physical health: research in poor urban settlements elsewhere by WHO has related diarrhoea disease in children to impaired cognitive functioning several years later. This is due to the exacerbated impact of malnutrition promoted by repeated occurrences of diarrhoea.

Absenteeism from school is very common as a result of repeated bouts of diarrhoeal diseases associated with inadequate water supply, poor sanitation and hygiene. This has a direct impact on school performance and achievements. Frequently boys and girls are kept out of school to make sure that water is obtained for the homes.

2.5 Gender Roles

Like most of Africa, a disproportionate share of the labour and the health burden of household water supply and sanitation inadequacies in Monrovia fall on women. It is typically women and children who collect water from the shallow wells and public stand pipes (where there is a public water service). They queue for long periods in the process and often have to get up very early or go late at night to fetch water.

It is women who have to make do with the inadequate water supplies to clean the home, prepare the food, wash the utensils, wash the children and do the laundering. It is also women who typically care for the children (including bathing them), both when they are well and when they are sick. There is no compelling local statistics in Monrovia comparing to the health statistics, documenting the labour burdens of the inadequate water and sanitation provisions in the city.

Women have to stand up to the confrontation and humiliation in neighbourhood yards where they are often taunted and declined the chance to get water. They have to be thick skinned to get water. Women interviewed claimed that sometimes they are verbally abused and referred to as dirty people and beggars when they are trying to fetch water from neighbourhood compounds. Sometimes women need to go at nigh to other settlements to get water because the inhabitants would not like them using their wells/taps. “People in rich neighbourhoods think we would contaminate their water because we live in slumps.” 15 | P a g e There is tremendous pressure placed on those at the public pump operated wells and stand pipes not to take too much, or too long, by those waiting in the queue behind them. If someone has a lot of water containers, which are often needed in large households, they would not allow other people to fetch water. This is how a lot of fights get started. Cheating on the queue is also another source of fights. “Nothing could be done without fights. Until you fought and heard swear words you will not get water”.

In Paynesville and Sinkor communities there are limits on how much water that can be taken in many yards, but this means that it is difficult to draw enough water for all household tasks. Of course this problem is much exacerbated in the dry season and the current low coverage of LWSC water supply.

“We have very few toilets. People from different yards use one toilet, for men and women. Sometimes you have to stand in a queue for half an hour. That is why men and children all go for open defecation in the open sewers. Even now insects climb up our legs. The toilets are not cleaned properly. If you go to see the toilet, it is so dirty that a person cannot put a foot in it, but we have no choice and we have to go there. The children squat in the road to the extent that you cannot walk along the road. Though we have a toilet it does not have water and it is not clean. Often people defecate on the side of the drain just outside your sitting area. This is very un-sighting and often we have to clean it for our own sake”

Yet women remain under represented in an institutional level. An analysis of LWSC’s employees shows that out of 153 employees only 30 are female (Table 1). The majority (22) of the female staff in the organisation operate at support staff level. No female staffs work in public relations, transmission and distribution, water treatment and supply and sewer. It is therefore evident that women have less influence than men in the running of LWSC. Activities relating to sewerage conveyance and water distribution are labour intensive but with good screening and training women can partake in these activities. Therefore the capacity of women needs to be strengthened.

Liberia Water and Sewer Coporation Employees

Table 1: Analysis of male/female employees at LWSC

DEPARTMENT/OFFICE NO. OF FEMALE MALE NO STAFF NO % NO % 1 Managing Directors Office 4 2 50 2 50 2 Internal Audits 2 1 50 1 50 3 DMD/Admin. & Finance Office 5 2 40 3 60 4 Manpower Department 7 4 57 3 43 5 Accounts 15 9 60 6 40 6 Commercial 30 3 10 27 90 7 Public Relations 2 0 0 2 100 8 General Services 10 3 30 7 70 9 DMD/Tech. Services’ Office 6 3 50 3 50 10 Planning & Development (Tec. Ser) 22 3 14 19 86 11 Transmission & Distribution 23 0 0 23 100 12 Treatment & Supply 18 0 0 18 100 13 Sewer 10 0 0 10 100 16 | P a g e TOTALS 153 30 123

ANALYSIS OF FEMALE EMPLOYEES

1. Number of LWSC staff : 153 2. Number female staff : 30 3. Number female staff in Management : 6 4. Number female staff in Technical Jobs : 2 5. Number of staff as support staff : 22

2.6 Human Environment

One of the biggest problems facing Monrovia is that of poor waste management and sanitation. Only 7% have access to flush toilets and 25% access to latrines. The majority use the bushes and water bodies to dispose of their wastes. Poor waste management contributes to environmental conditions that may threaten human health and well-being especially the pollution of drinking water sources. This issue represents a heavy burden for the authorities and communities of Monrovia. Although waste collection and disposal systems used to exist in some municipalities, these are currently not functioning. The most common solid waste disposal method in Monrovia is open dumping at disposal sites generally located at various sites around communities, most of which are not suitably located. Other problems include inadequate legislation, weak enforcement, lack of substantial financial and human resources, lack of appropriate technologies and effective mechanisms to coordinate stakeholders.

2.61 Climate Liberia is known for its sustained heat and heavy rainfall. Because the republic lies south of the Tropic of Cancer and only a few degrees north of the equator, the days vary very little in length. The tropical solar radiation is intense and the radiation is uniform across the country. The annual variations of rainfall, temperature, humidity, and hours of sun shine are shown in Figure 4.

Temperatures remain warm throughout the country, and there is little change in temperature between seasons. The mean annual temperatures in Fahrenheit range from the 70s to the 80s. Temperatures inland are warmer than along the coast, but the diurnal range is also greater inland. More rain falls in Liberia than in other areas of West Africa.

The relative humidity is high throughout the county, and averages from 70 to 90 per cent, especially along the coast. The continental and maritime masses of air alternate their movements back and forth, and from north to south. This brings some seasonal differences in rainfall intensity. The coastal region has the heaviest rainfall, from between 155 to 175 inches annually in the west, and with nearly 100 inches of rain annually in the south-eastern part of the country. Monrovia receives almost 180 inches of rain annually.

Rainfall decreases going north and inland. But the rainfall increases again in the highlands and the northernmost part of the republic. The driest part of the country is along a strip of the eastward flowing Cavalla River, but even there, the land receives over 70 inches of rain a year. In Liberia, the rainy season begins in late April or early May, and reaches a peak in July through September, and tapers off again in October. Monrovia and Buchanan, on the coastal plains, receive a heavy rain earlier in the season, then they experience a period of reduced rainfall called the “middle dries” before heavy rains return in August. In the south-eastern 17 | P a g e part of the country, the rainy season begins in April and lasts for two or three months, and then is followed by a drier period of two or three months. Then a second rainy season begins in September and lasts until November. The “middle dries” are not dry enough to be called a true dry season. Surface water is abundant, and groundwater reserves are ample and regularly replenished by the country's heavy rainfall.

Figure 4: Climate Parameters of Monrovia

2.62 Ecology In West Africa, the forest zone refers to the southern part of the region once largely covered by tropical rainforest. The forest zone of West Africa, in the strict sense, covers all of Liberia and Sierra Leone, most of Guinea, the southern halves of Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria, and parts of Ghana, Togo and Guinea-Bissau.

Forestry has devastated much of the natural rainforest in Liberia. Farmers without land have been pushed onto land with marginal soil for agriculture by population growth and poverty, which, despite the past warfare, continues to be among the highest in the world. The rapid destruction of Liberia’s forest resources has also been caused by over-harvesting and uncontrolled logging, accelerated by civil war and then rapid growth of urban and peri-urban settlements. The current landscape of the Monrovia’s coastline is illustrated in by the satellite image of Western Liberia (Figure 5). The satellite image, taken on August 8, 2007 by the European Weather satellite at a resolution of 1Km shows Western Liberia as a highly perturbed forest environment. Shifting cultivators have accessed logged forests using the many logging roads built since the early 1960s. There has been widespread shifting cultivation, mainly for growing upland rice. Between 1990 and 2000, Liberia lost about 760,000 hectares of forest, a deforestation rate of about 2% annually. As noted above, about 2.3 million hectares of the forest estate is affected by agriculture, including 1 million hectares that has been greatly fragmented.

The Green patches of the satellite image represent the remaining, forests (now mainly secondary forests). Areas within urban areas experience the fastest rate of vegetation removal. The nation lacked regulatory agencies to supervise the preservation of the environment and is just now trying to build the capacity of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA). As the 1980s began, Liberia was one of the last West African countries with significant primary forest reserves, but recent estimates suggest that some 42,000 ha (104,000 acres) of primary forest are converted annually to degraded forest or transformed into bush land by shifting cultivation. Commercial logging, firewood cutting, and a government land- 18 | P a g e clearing program also threaten primary forestland. Between 1983 and 1993, Liberia lost 13.2% of its forest and woodland area. Forests currently account for less than 40% of Liberia's land. By the mid-1980s, the country had lost over 70% of its mangrove swamps. Hunting and loss of habitat have decimated wildlife along the coastal plain, and there are no longer any large herds of big game in the interior.

The water supply is limited to open sources such as streams, swamps, and shallow, uncovered wells; the result, especially during the rainy season, is the frequent breakout of diarrhoeal diseases. The result is also that insects and parasites thrive, creating a major health hazard. Liberia cities produce about 2 million tons of solid waste per year. The Mano and St. John rivers were becoming increasingly polluted from the dumping of iron ore tailings, and the coastal waters from oil residue and the dumping of untreated sewage and waste water. Eleven of the nation's mammal species and 13 of its bird species are endangered. One of its plant species is threatened with extinction. The Jentink's duiker and Liberian mongoose are endangered species in Liberia.

Deforestation of this scale has future implications on the water resources of Liberia. Removal of vegetation cover exposes the surface of the soils. This is demonstrated in Figure 6, a the picture of the landscape along the Paynesville Highway taken during the mission. Exposure of the soil in this way also increases the silt loads of runoff which contributes to the blocking of drainages and sewerages. Soil erosion has a negative impact on the capacity of the soils to hold water or recharge the water table by infiltration because most of the rainwater will be carried into streams and rivers via the erosion tunnels. Surface waters become more vulnerable to pollution under decreased vegetation cover and increased surface runoff. Complete deforestation will also lead to changes in the local climate. The temperatures will rise and the levels of rainfall will reduce. The water demand for farming, domestic use and industry will increase but the water resources will be more reduced. With the threats of the effects of global climate change and the current rates of sea level rise coastal water resources will be vulnerable to sea water intrusion.

19 | P a g e Figure 5: Satellite image of Western Liberia showing its current vegetation cover

Figure 6: Accelerated Soil Erosion in Paynesville highway (Photograph Kolleh Bangura)

2.63 Geology

20 | P a g e There are three distinct belts lying parallel to the coast of Liberia. The low coastal belt is about 40 km (25 miles) wide, with tidal creeks, shallow lagoons, and mangrove marshes. The land then rises to rolling hills, with elevations of 60–150 m (200–500 ft). The third belt, comprising the bulk of Liberia, is marked by abrupt changes of elevation in a series of low mountains and plateaux, less densely forested than the hilly region. The Nimba Mountains are near the Guinea frontier. The Wologizi Mountains reach a maximum of about 1,380 m (4,528 ft) with Mt. Wutuvi, the nation's highest point. Of the six principal rivers, all of which are at right angles to the coast and flow into the Atlantic Ocean, only the Farmington is of much commercial importance. Sandbars obstruct the mouths of all rivers, making entrance hazardous, and upstream there are rocky rapids. In Monrovia, sandbars increase the resident time of sewage dumped directly into the estuary.

Liberia is perched on the West African Shield, a rock formation from 2.7 to 3.4 billion years old. The West African Shield that is made of granite, schist, and gneiss. In Liberia this shield has been intensely folded and faulted and is interspersed with iron-bearing formations known as itabirites. Along the coast lie beds of sandstone with occasional crystalline-rock outcrops. Monrovia stands on such an outcropping, a ridge of diabase, a dark red-coloured, fine-grained rock. In Paynesville, the sandstone is covered by a layer of limestone (Figure 7).

The soil cover above the limestone has been greatly eroded due to removal of vegetation cover so that the underlying limestone and sandstone rocks are easily exposed on the surface. In North Paynesville the depth of limestone exceeds 5m (Figure 8). This limestone layer is late deposit consisting of numerous calcified fossils of sea creatures. The limestone deposit on top of the sandstone contributes to the hardness of well water around Monrovia. It also gives well water its clayey appearance. In Bushrod, Cape Masurado and Central Monrovia, Sinkor and Airfield Highway the topsoil is a layer of sand. Sand is a very efficient water filter and its infiltration capacity is very high. Sandstones form a large proportion of sedimentary rocks along the coast of Monrovia. They occur within elevations of 0-50m. They are formed by the cementing together of grains. Sandstones can vary enormously in colour, texture and composition depending on the nature of the original source material and the environment of deposition. Because the rock formations of Monrovia are primarily sandstone they allow percolation of water and are porous enough to store large quantities, making them valuable aquifers. Fine-grained aquifers, such as sandstones, are more apt to filter out pollutants from the surface than are rocks with cracks. Lime stone is not an excellent filter for pollutants.

LWSC abstract groundwater from three deep wells in the Triassic/Precambrian Sandstone. Triassic sandstone has large water storage capacity within the structure of the strata and it does not tend to react rapidly to periods of low rainfall. Therefore, it gives a relatively reliable and stable supply of water. A predominant additional colorant in the Monrovian and in deed the Liberian coastline is iron oxide, which imparts reddish tints ranging from pink to dark red (terra cotta), with additional manganese and aluminium imparting a purplish hue. Under water logged conditions iron in sandstone is in the reduced form and is in solution (Fe2+). This gives the rock surface a greenish-grey colour. When the rock is exposed in air e.g. during well digging the Fe2+ becomes oxidized to Fe3+ and is precipitated out of the water to become reddish-brown in colour. These reddish-brown sandstone fragments cover a lot of the landscape of Monrovia. Excessive iron in soils is not good in agriculture because iron binds with important nutrients like phosphorus and makes them unavailable to plants. Excessive iron from water pumped from the 2 deep wells in Paynesville is removed by precipitation methods using chlorine by Coca Cola in their Factory before it is used.

21 | P a g e Figure 7: Sandstone outcrop exposed at Paynesville; (Photograph Kolleh Bangura)

Figure 8: Limestone outcrop in North Paynesville (Photograph Kolleh Bangura)

22 | P a g e Most of the crystalline rocks are of Precambrian age. The western half of country is typically of Archean age. In the eastern half of the country, lenses of Proterozoic greenstone belts occur surrounded by rocks of probable Archean age. Rocks of Pan African age extend north- westerly along most of the Liberian coastline from the Cestos shear zone. Along the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars. Inland, the grassy plateau supports limited agriculture. The rock out crops in Figures 5 and 6 were taken in North Paynesville, where the Paynesville and Edina Sandstones are outcropping.

Considering existing data, there is a large sandstone potential aquifer located between two borders of diabase. This structure is oriented North-South, and turn to the east due to a major fault and diabase outcropping at the north of the shore. This fault and diabase are oriented NW/SE

It is suppose that a diabase (dikes and sills), at the borders of the sandstone aquifer, have a low or very low permeability. On the other hand, the peripheries of the diabase might be fractured and create an interesting potential aquifer. The associated river basin is large enough to support a good water feeding. This hydraulic system is in equilibrium and fully saturated.

As a consequence, any volume of infiltration water entering must leave this hydraulic system through discharge to the ocean. This hypothesis is yet to be confirmed and is beyond the scope of this mission.

2.64 Hydrology

Figure 9 is the hydrological map of Liberia. The major rivers of Liberia are the Cavalla, the Cestos, the Lofa, the Mano, the Morro, the Saint John and the Saint Paul. The Mano and Morro rivers in the northwest and the Cavalla River in the southeast are boundary lines for part of the country. The St Paul is Monrovia source of water supply. The White Plain treatment plant takes its water from a freshwater reach 47 Km upstream.

Most of the rivers of Liberia flow from the mountains inland in the northeast to the coast in the southeast, and parallel each other. Among the low mountains and hills, the river beds are steep and irregular, with frequent falls or rapids. Many rocks, waterfalls, rapids and sandbanks reduce navigation of these rivers very far inland. Closer to the coast, the river grade becomes less, and tidal current prevent the rivers from removing sand bars and accumulations. However, most streams overflow their banks regularly, and during the rainy seasons there is often severe flooding along the coastal plains. Many rivers flow along the coast for miles before they enter the Atlantic Ocean. The Cavalla River runs between the Ivory Coast and Liberia.

The rivers were harnessed to generate hydroelectric power. This source of electricity served Liberia very well before the warfare began. The Farmington River was one source of hydroelectric power. These facilities are yet to be rehabilitated as they were completely destroyed during the long civil war. The Mount Coffee hydroelectric station outside Monrovia on the St. Paul River was the country's largest hydroelectric installation. Electrical production in Liberia from all sources was 509.4 million kWh in 2003. The shutdown of Monrovia’s power sources during the war has a very high impact on the cost of water production in the city. Pumps are now to be run on generators which consume a lot of fuel. 23 | P a g e Under this project White Plain Treatment plant and the 4 sewage lift pumps are now going to be powered by petroleum powered engines.

Figure 9: Map of the Elevation and Hydrology of Liberia

2.65 Soil and Vegetation

Central Monrovia and its immediate surroundings is devoid of vegetation largely as a result of urbanization. Human interference, by way of establishing housing, and other urban activities have replaced the forest. However, un-mature grass and tweedy areas still exist in Paynesville, Airfield Road, and the Northern edge of Bushrod Island.

The soil in Monrovia state is derived from drift and deposited materials which vary in textural characteristics, but mainly are sand and oxisols (Oxides of iron and aluminium). The profile of the soils is poorly developed, and it has a low water retention capacity. Vegetable cover is very sparse.

2.66 The Saint Paul Watershed

The land drained by St. Paul River lies between Lofa River Catchment on the West , the St John River Catchment on the East and the Nimba Mountain range in Guinea on the North. A 24 | P a g e short distance downstream from White Plains to the Atlantic Ocean the river is tidal. Because of the embankment in White Plains the river is swollen from that point to Garu Town and is fresh. There is high risk of salt water intrusion into the water source at high tides during dry season. There are frequent salt water intrusions in White Plains. LWSC constructed a salt water defence wall behind the raw water pumping station to stop further saltwater intrusion and also to gather water for the intake pumps during low flows. With the threat of sea level rise the prevention of saltwater intrusion into the drinking water sources is a very big challenge for the LWSC operations. The management of the St Paul watershed is crucial to the long term water management for Monrovia city. The meeting of St Paul’s downstream needs need to be considered when making St Paul’s upstream decisions such as land clearing, industrial activities, farming activities and so on, which all result to deforestation and failure to conserve water. Unfortunately some of these decisions are international since the river originates from Guinea.

2.67 Water resources

As described earlier Liberia’s climate is tropical hot-humid and winters are dry with hot days and cool to cold nights, while summers are wet and cloudy with frequent heavy showers. The rainy season is from April to November and average annual rainfall is estimated at 2,391 mm, with a volume variation from 2,000 to 5,000 mm. Although this is much higher than the quantity of water required for crop growth, an acute water deficit is experienced during a 3 to 5 month period, particularly in the uplands. Liberia is one of the African countries with the highest amount of renewable water resources reaching 60 Cubic Km per capita. The surface water is typical of good quality. However, there is a challenge of pollution of water courses from oil residue and raw sewage.

Liberia has two river systems. The major river system which drains 97% of the territory is in a general northeast-southwest direction. Of this major river system, six trans-boundary water basins namely: (i) The Mano and Mugowi Rivers with Sierra Leone, (ii) The Makone, Lofa, Via, Nianda and Mani Rivers with Guinea, (iii) The Cavalla River with Côte d’Ivoire. The secondary river system is short coastal watercourses, which drain about 3 percent of the country. Liberia has Internal Renewable Water Resources (IRWR) of about 200 Cubic Km of surface water in addition to 32 Cubic Km flows from neighbouring countries.

Liberia has great potential in groundwater resources, where both precipitation rates and water table are sufficiently high to allow for easy exploitation of Groundwater resources. It is estimated that the ground water recharge is estimated at 60 Cubic Km. Total water withdrawal in the year 2000 was estimated at 106.8 million m3. In a recent study of 770 wells, the average depth ranged between 7m to 13m, with an average water table between 4m to 7m. However, because of lack of coherent sector policies based on equity considerations, there are large disparities in the spatial distribution of groundwater services across the country. The shallow aquifer is normally of good water quality as most of the problems are site specific and resulted from local contamination.

2.68 Water sources of Monrovia Two main sources of water will be used by the programme for the water supply of Monrovia. All the pipe borne water supply for Programme will be abstracted from the White Plains section, 47 km upstream of the St. Paul’s River. White Plains is the uppermost limit of the St Paul’s estuary. From White Plains upstream of the river is fresh water. The water at White Plains is clear and has uniform consistency throughout the year and is not industrially polluted. However, it has high coliform count and there is a current threat of saltwater 25 | P a g e intrusion into the area of the water source. Several episodes of saltwater intrusion during dry periods were reported by LWSC. Groundwater is found in aquifers, which are water-bearing formations with hydraulic characteristics that allow water to be extracted in significant amounts through the use of boreholes and dug wells. Results of boreholes drilled and wells dug show the abundance of groundwater throughout the country. Water infiltrates downward until it reaches a depth where it fills all of the openings in the soil and cracks in rocks. Ground water development in Liberia dates as far back as the 1800’s when individuals in rural and urban areas developed wells for domestic use. However, groundwater in Liberia though of relatively high quality, has not been fully developed. In the early 70s USAID, in conjunction with the then Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Urban Reconstruction (now Ministry of Internal Affairs) began the Rural Water Program. International NGOs and other organizations have since joined this effort providing rural populations with water wells. Prior to 1990, there were 11 water supply systems developed for urban centres in Liberia. Four of these were based on groundwater sources. The destruction of most of these facilities means that today over 90 per cent of the population has to rely on groundwater for water supply. Liberia has not had adequate hydro-geological programmes. At the height of its operation, LHS had only three hydro-geological monitoring stations in Liberia. Aquifers have not been adequately mapped to determine their extent and water quantity. To date no work has been done to map the number of aquifers that exist throughout the country. Studies have been undertaken on an ad-hoc basis.

LWSC operates two deep wells in Paynesville Town (each about 150ft deep). A third is used as a reserve. Each of the wells yields about 2.5 litres of water/second throughout the year. The pumps of the two operational wells are linked to each other by intake pipes to maintain high water production. The deep wells supplies 100,000 gallons of water a day through trucking services. The wells are bored in sandstone rock. Their water quality is good. Water from the wells is pumped directly to overhead reservoirs without any treatment and is distributed to the consumers by water tankers. One of the three deep wells is reserved for supplying Coca Cola Drinks Company. Coca Cola does its own testing and reports any concerns to LWSC.

The potential for groundwater development in the country is high as groundwater is readily available everywhere, but the implementation of a successful groundwater development Program would be dependent on detailed investigation at the national level. One of two sedimentary basins south of Monrovia in Paynesville, which has been identified as showing promise for groundwater development, already has three drilled boreholes. This basin is now a major source of drinking water in Monrovia and its environs. The water shortage in the city is augmented by a system of nearly 5000 shallow wells located in many parts of the city. These wells are difficult to maintain due to frequent disjoining of the shaft, salt water intrusion, pollution and frequent theft of hand pumps.

2.69 The Water quality

Drinking water, considered the highest beneficial use, must be free of hazards, that is, pathogens, toxins and carcinogens. Aesthetic factors, such as temperature, colour, clarity, taste and chemical balance are also important and should be monitored. Some physical, chemical and biological (coliform count) water quality parameters show that White Plains source meets the WHO drinking water source quality standards for these parameters. LWSC does not have the resources and capacity to carryout full chemical constituents’ analysis. However, consistent constituents’ monitoring will be quickly restarted, as a safeguard against system failures as well as against stochastic natural or anthropogenic events of pollution. Chemical monitoring of both raw and treated water will be carried out using automatic water 26 | P a g e quality monitoring systems (AWQMS). This method is cheap and does not need human presence all the time. The following parameters will be consistently monitored by the water treatment plant lab: pH, Temperature, TDS, Conductivity, DO, BOD, Hardness, coliform - 2- 3 number, Cl , SO4 ,Na 9.6, K11.2, PO4-P, NO -N, Pb, Zn, Fe, Mn, CU<0.01, Cl 134.7. An alternative analysis laboratory/facility will also be setup for manual analysis of water quality.

The last full chemical constituents’ analyses on record were carried out in August 1980. The analyses currently conducted consistently only include colour, pH, residual chlorine content, turbidity, conductivity (hardness) and coliform count. The mean colour value of the treated water is 4 CU, pH of 6.8, and residual chlorine 2.5 PPM. The Coliform count after treatment is 0/100 ml. The raw water coliform count is too numerous to count (TNTC). The average conductivity is 62 Conductivity Unit. However, in March 2007, conductivity values of above 450 Conductivity Unit were recorded in the treated water. This was attributed to saltwater intrusion during very dry periods and low freshwater flow from upstream the St Paul’s. However, because the incident was not scientifically investigated it could be attributed to anything including an upstream event. The length of the intake pipe should be extended upstream as far as behind the Hydroelectricity dam to ensure that salt free water is obtained from the river during dry weather and/high spring tides. There is no problem of saltwater intrusion during the rainy season. LWSC will produce water quality standards for the service. The standards will have maximum contamination level goals for organic, inorganic (chemical) and microbial contaminants.

The persistence of pollution sensitive fishes on the White Plains reach of the St Paul’s river is an indication of the absence of severe pollution of the watershed. The fish species richness is also an indication of the general health of the environment. This richness of fish species (species diversity) will be monitored and used as an indicator of changes in water quality trends and to serve as a warning of environmental changes. The list below (Table 2) show the most common species found at White Plains reach confirmed by the White Plains Water Treatment Plant (WPWTP) staff.

Table 2: Common fish species captured at the White Plains Reach of the St Paul River

Common Fish species of R. St Paul 1. Chrysichtys maurus 2. Schilbe mystus 3. Schilbe mandibularis 4. Paramphilius firestonei 5. Malapterurus punctatus 6. Malapterurus stiassnyae 7. Poropanchax normani 8. Epiplatys hildegardae 9. Epiplatys lamottei 10. Epiplatys roloffi 11. Callopanchax monroviae 12. Archiaphyosemion maeseni 13. Archiaphyosemion viride 14. Scriptaphyosemion liberiense 15. Tilapia joka 16. Tilapia coffea 17. Sarotherodon candomarginatus 27 | P a g e 2.70 Groundwater reserve and the geological structure

Recent geological studies describe the presence of two sandstone formations in the basin, i.e. Edina sandstone and Paynesville sandstone. The Edina sandstones are supposed to have a limited thickness (few tens of meters). The two available geological logs in the area show heterogeneous layers (sands, clays, conglomerates) overlying diabase. However, observations based on excavated pits in Paynesville on this mission show the presence of thick a thick layer of limestone overlaying the sandstone outcrop in Paynesville as demonstrated in Figures 5 and 6). This layer has a significant role to play in the chemistry of ground reservoirs in addition to that contributed by the iron rich sandstone.

2.71 Water using sectors in Monrovia

The water using sectors in Monrovia can be divided into four main categories according to the scale the scale of use and uses water is put into.

i. Industrial scale users: this group includes Coca cola Drinks Company, the beer factory, Liberian Ports Authority, United States Embassy, Mercy Ships and the United Nations Mission in Liberia. One of the deep wells in Paynesville is dedicated for Supplying Coca cola. When the system is rehabilitated in the near future schools, colleges, and state buildings will become major water users. Industrial water users should be encouraged to use equipment and practices that save water. They should also contribute to water quality standards development and monitoring. ii. Residential water users: residential water use rates fluctuate from hour to hour, from day to day, from season to season and all the time. Dry season averages are more. The principal domestic and commercial water are for drinking, cooking, meeting sanitary needs and cooling systems. iii. Agriculture/vegetable growers/gardeners: in the dry season rainwater and shallow wells are inadequate and piped water is expected to be used for irrigation to prevent crop failure. Water requirement for irrigation is seasonal. Irrigation water use conflicts many other uses and thus creates special problems during the dry season. Moreover, it has been argued that the cost of water used is never recovered by any harvest, and use of pipe borne water in cities to irrigate crops should be considered a loss of money. Vegetable growers should be encouraged to plant vegetable that are resistant to draught and those that use less water. iv. The water treatment plant: Water treatment plant uses large volumes of water to clean their filters. In the White Plains Treatment Plant, water for cleaning the filters is first pumped to a special tank which then flows by gravity to the filters. The reason why raw water cannot be used to clean water filters is the risk of contaminating and defeating the whole purpose of treatment.

2.72 Sanitation Resources The only functioning sewage system in the country is in Monrovia. The city has however, been unable to balance the pace of infrastructure and service provision with rapid urban growth. The plant has been broken since the beginning of the civil war. The sewage system was designed to provide sedimentation and secondary treatment with trickling filters. It was also designed to handle sanitary wastewaters. The effluent is supplemented with storm water due to illegal connections with drains from infiltration of ground water. Because the plant and 28 | P a g e the pumping stations have not functioned consistently for more than a decade due to disrepair and shortage of electricity, raw sewage has been frequently allowed to flow directly into lagoons, rivers and the Atlantic Ocean. Some residents of Monrovia still use the sewage system, causing a build-up of sewage within low points in the pipeline. The project is going to restore 17% of the sewage service. The first phase of the sanitation component will also involve the construction of twenty toilet facilities directly attached to sewerages.

2.73 Water Quality and Hydrology

Liberia is surrounded by the Montserrado River and the Atlantic Ocean. Water supply for Monrovia is extracted from the St Paul’s River. The surface water is typical of good quality. However, there is a challenge of pollution of water courses from raw sewage. The land drained by St. Paul River lies between Lofa River Catchment on the West , the St John River Catchment on the East and the Nimba Mountain range in Guinea on the North. A short distance downstream from White Plains to the Atlantic Ocean the river is tidal. Because of the embankment in White Plains the river’s level from that point to Garu Town in the dry season. During the rainy season the embankment is submerged.

There is high risk of salt water intrusion into the water source at high tides during the dry season during high ocean tides. There were frequent salt water intrusions in White Plains. LWSC constructed a defense wall behind the raw water pumping station to stop further saltwater intrusion and also to gather water for the intake pumps during low flows. With the threat of sea level rise the prevention of saltwater intrusion into the drinking water sources is a very big challenge for the LWSC operations. The management of the St Paul watershed is crucial to the long term water management for Monrovia city. The meeting of St Paul’s downstream needs need to be considered when making St Paul’s upstream decisions such as land clearing, industrial activities, farming activities and so on, which all result to deforestation and failure to conserve water. Unfortunately some of these decisions are international since the river originates from Guinea.

The city has over 5000 shallow wells. Storm and surface run-off are high in faecal loads in most of Monrovia. It collects large pollution loads as it flows through the city especially coupled with the fact that Monrovia has inadequate provision for solid waste collection. The drainage systems have also been blocked due to water flowing through them containing high silt and domestic waste loads. Faecally polluted urban run-off from central Monrovia, Sinkor, West Point, New Road and Paynesville districts overcome the assimilation capacity of soils to the extent that well water pose an infection risk for those that drink it directly without proper treatment. Even with regular chlorine treatment, frequent contamination of wells make most of the wells water unfit for human consumption.

2.74 City planning

In Monrovia, due to the absence of any effective land use plan or other means to guide and control new development in the past decade, the city has expanded haphazardly – determined where households, residential areas, enterprises and public sector activities locate, legally and illegally. Uncontrolled physical growth has impact on the immediate districts around the city e.g. East Sinkor and Air Field highway or Duala in Bushrod much of which cannot be described as urban and yet is no longer rural. Within these areas Agriculture has disappeared as land is bought up by people or companies in anticipation of the increases in land value accompanying changes from Agricultural to urban use. There is a lack of effective public control of such land use changes or on the profits that can be made from them, even if it is 29 | P a g e public investment for example the proposed expansion of the road network and the water and sanitation system that will create much of the increase in land value. Rich property developers should contribute to the long term water and sanitation services extended to their properties through appropriate tariffs.

There is no official figure for the number of people in illegal/informal settlements in Monrovia. However, figures from aid agencies operating in the city puts the number to over 50% of the city’s current population. This uncontrolled and unregulated physical expansion of Monrovia’s built-up area has serious social and environmental consequences. This includes the segregation of low-income groups in the worst located often the most dangerous areas, to which it is difficult and expensive to provide water, sanitation and drainage (e.g. the PHP and Water side communities). The haphazard expansion of Monrovia’s peri-urban areas settlements generally build into the city fabric greatly increased costs for providing basic infrastructure as new developments, unplanned for water and sanitation utilities, but that need connection to networks of water mains and sewerage and drainage system spring up far from existing networks. Most informal settlements also have layouts and other site characteristics – such as unclear plot boundaries, unstable soils (sand in PHP areas) and lack of public rights of the way – which greatly increases the cost of public infrastructure provision.

Most of Monrovia faces risks from floods, in part because Monrovia is just 50m above sea level and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Montserrado estuary, and in part because Monrovia has large areas that are built over and thus impervious so that rain, flood water and wastewaters do not drain into the ground. Heavy rainfall in Monrovia produces large and rapidly flowing volumes of water. When floods occur, the fact that building are standing the way of flood water leads to large rapidly flowing flood water channels which are particularly destructive.

30 | P a g e 3.0 Major environmental and social impacts Social impacts are expected to be positive, especially the gender aspects, as women are the key stakeholders for water and sanitation. The program is aimed at improving health by providing safe, well distributed, and sustainable drinking water and sanitation sources. Development of one or a limited number of water and sanitation points would not have significant impacts on the environment. However, considering the large number of water points and sanitation facilities that are to be developed throughout the 5 districts of Monrovia, precautions shall be taken in the design and operation of these facilities. The environmental features that will be most likely affected by the development of a large number of small water points and sanitation facilities are: the water table, the surface water resources, sensitive areas, vectors, waste water. Poor handling of water and/or poor drainage around the water points may ultimately result in contamination of the water sources and water related illnesses among the users.

Negative environmental impacts which are similar to those typically associated with construction of civil works would include exposure of public to the dangers of open excavation, increase in traffic, noise and dust pollution. Potential for the project construction to interfere with existing underground utilities (water and sanitation, and communication and power cables), and may result in temporary suspensions of service. Construction will result in removal or relocation of trees and vegetation along the raw water, wastewater and treated water pipelines, and within the water treatment plant site.

3.1 The immediate social impacts/benefits

From the environmental and social perspectives especially poverty reduction, the present project aims at improving both human health and natural environment through rehabilitation of water supply system and provision of sanitation facilities. Replacement of all deteriorated equipment together with improved operation and maintenance will ensure that installed capacity is restored and that the system works efficiently. The resultant improvement in quality of 31 | P a g e delivery of the water service will also eliminate the present danger of contamination, a problem exacerbated by the serious water leakage in the distribution system. Once implemented, the project will undoubtedly impact positively on the water supply situation and health conditions of the population. In addition, it will improve access to more economic opportunities, hygienic public sanitation facilities, and awareness raising and hygiene. With the project, groundwater extraction will be diminished to sustainable yields and shallow wells as water sources will be placed on standby status to meet maximum-daily and emergency water requirements. Well water will also be used for other purposes such as irrigation and in the construction industry. The project activities will support the AfDB-funded Liberia project, providing safe drinking water and sanitation facilities in the city of Monrovia and its surroundings areas, thus (i) minimizing the incidence and prevalence of water borne diseases, increase the standard of living of the people of Monrovia and increase their economic output; and (ii) improving the local environment and institutional capacity for LWSC, and overall capacity for water and sanitation provision for the city.

Improved provision of water and sanitation is part of the poverty reduction strategy. Good quality water and sanitation provision not only brings major health benefits to Monrovia but also:  for income earners, increased income from less time off work because of ill health or the need to nurse sick family members, and less expenditure on medicines and health care  support for household enterprises that need safe water (e.g. small scale ice and drinks making industry) that are important for income earning  better nutrition (e.g. less food lost to diarrhoeal diseases and intestinal worms  lower overall costs for those who, prior to improved supplies, had to rely on expensive water vendors and  a reduced risk of floods that can damage and destroy housing, which is often a low income household’s main capital asset and also where they store other assets  the high cost of water to many low income groups and how this affects household incomes  the high economic costs for those who fall ill from diseases related to inadequate water and sanitation, including the cost of treatment and of income forgone  the huge physical efforts needed to fetch water and carry water – and often the hours needed to queue for it and the inconvenience of having to get up early to get to the water points before queues become too long  Children bear much the greatest burden of ill health and premature death from diseases related to inadequate water and sanitation.

3.2 Impacts Associated with the Programme Location, Planning and Design Impacts associated with the programme location, planning and design are not direct programme impacts i.e. they do not arise from the rehabilitation or operation of the water and sanitation facilities. However, they are impacts that directly affect the rehabilitation and operational phases of the water and sanitation facilities. Both phases of the project also do affect them positively and negatively and are therefore environmental and social considerations that need to be addressed adequately before the implementation of the programme and on an ongoing basis for the sustainability of the programme. These impacts include the following: the built-up environment; illegal or informal statuses of many settlements; illegal occupation of Fiama treatment plant property; non-point source of surface water pollution; structural transformation of the landscape of Monrovia; flood risks; and lack of water and sanitation sector policy.

32 | P a g e 3.21 The Built-up Environment Central Monrovia, West Point, Bushrod Island and Parts of Sinkor are built-up environments. Water and sanitation problems associated with built-up environments are in Monrovia are: 1. System failures will affect many because of over-crowding 2. Street runoff is higher because of the paved surfaces 3. Risk of flooding is higher 4. Traffic flows are higher and rehabilitation works are more likely to have greater negative impacts here 5. Other services (electricity, telephone) are more likely to be disrupted here during construction/rehabilitation works 6. Wells are easily contaminated by shallow latrines and overflows during periods of floods 7. Diarrhoea is more prevalent here 3.22 The Illegal/informal statuses of many settlements

There is no official figure for the number of people in illegal/informal settlements in Monrovia. However, figures from aid agencies operating in the city puts the number to over 50% of the city’s current population. This number built up within a very short time. It happened during the civil war.

Illegal settlement is used in this ESMP to mean that some aspects of the occupation of the land or its development for housing are illegal or is not approved by the relevant authorities. This has considerable importance for the water supply and sanitation project since ‘if done purely officially’ LWSC may be ‘forbidden’ by law to carry out any infrastructural developments on those lands. Alternatively, the precondition necessary form LWSC to operate there may not be present (for example, house plots may not have formal address); inhabitants may not have legal documents to allow them to become registered, or householder may lack documents to show where plot boundaries are or who owns each plot. The rules are flexible in Liberia for the provision of public services, LWSC have a legal obligation to extend a certain amount of water and sanitation service to all communities. But there are also other factors that may influence the service LWSC can provide in informal settlements:

i. The distance between informal settlements and existing sewer networks ii. The irregular urban layout that characterize most of the settlements iii. The cost of construction in zones below the water table (many low income families in Waterside, PHP and West Point are on low-lying land, at risk of flooding) iv. LWSC may not have confidence that costs would be recovered and regular payments for services made by inhabitants. In this case lifeline tariffs and/or subsidised (to mean affordable) pay as you fetch may be the only cost recovery supply methods in these communities v. There will be no readily available local water source to tap, so negotiations are needed to get access to other sources – for instance to water mains behind compounds. vi. It also requires considerable technical expertise to design and install systems that will work properly and will not need constant maintenance vii. It is also more difficult to install water and sanitation systems in settlements that lack clearly demarcated plots, regular plot layouts and access roads and paths to each house

33 | P a g e viii. It is tricky to make sewage and drainage networks (in Parts of East Sinkor or PHP community) operate in settlements lacking regular solid waste collection services and having high silt loads in surface runoff. ix. And if the settlement is at risk of eviction e.g. the Fiama ‘lagoon settlers’ or the PHP beach settlers, no household will want to invest its limited resources in water and sanitation system when the member might be evicted at any time. x. There is a dilemma: water and sanitation services are needed to improve the health of every settler in Monrovia (legal or illegal). Any attempt to leave some areas underserved will undermine efforts to end water borne diseases which are communicable

3.23 The Illegal occupation of the Fiama STW’s land at Fiama Illegal construction activities at LWSC land has occurred. People have built on the sewage lagoon and the immediate boundary zone. Rice and other crops have also been cultivated in the lagoon itself and they are very viable crops due to the fertile nature of the sludge. The rice and vegetable farmers’ livelihood depend on this illegally occupied land.

Liberia has very ancient land laws conflicting with new ones. Article 24 of the Constitution of Liberia (1985) spells out the rights of individuals whose property is required by the state for public use. However, at the time of the ESMP assessment it was clearly spelt out that all the settlers occupied the land at Fiama illegally and theoretically these vulnerable persons could be legally evicted. Non of them have any certificate and they are all squattiers. However, there will be many constraints on the action that will be taken to remove the farmers and illegal occupiers of the lagoon land. Forceful eviction will create some tension between LWSC and the inhabitants and even bring a backlash with the local community. Meanwhile, following consultation with the project donors and other stakeholders it was agreed that the benefits of compensation will out-weigh any legal eviction for the reasons outlined in the following sections. The Policy Framework clearly spells out the different groups of persons considered for resettlement. For the component of the programme being considered here, 5 residential properties housing 28 families with a total of 284 persons will be expropriated. Accordingly, an Abbreviated Resettlement Plan (ARP) as outlined in Annex 4 of the Involuntary Resettlement Policy 2003 has been prepared.

3.24 Non-Point Source Surface Water Pollution

Storm and surface run-off are high in faecal loads in Most of Monrovia. It collects large pollution loads as it flows through the city especially coupled with the fact that Monrovia has inadequate provision for solid waste collection. Faecally polluted water urban run-off from central Monrovia, Sinkor, West Point, New Road and Paynesville districts (due to open defecation overcome the assimilation capacity of soils to the extent that well water pose an infection risk for those that drink it directly without proper treatment.

Waterish diarrhoea are very prevalent in the rainy season because rainy season storm water can be up to ten times more polluted than dry weather waste water owing to wash-off from backyards containing carrier bags with faeces nicknamed “flying toilets” in Monrovia because people defecate in carrier bags and throw them away in available open spaces (needless to say without proper disposal). Pollution is gathered during percolation through the soil, and re-suspension of deposits accumulated in sewers and drains. This results in pollution surges.

Monrovia is a coastal city, and currently because of the total collapse of the sewerage system, untreated sewage and other effluents flow into the sea with no provision to pipe them out far

34 | P a g e enough to protect the beaches and inshore waters. Central Monrovia has a serious problem of contaminated beaches, and seawater can be a major health risk to bathers. Pollution along the beach of the PHP community (the lower ends of Randall Street and UN Drive) is very severe.

The mission recommended the temporary closure of these beaches and rocky shores to the public (with proper legal reinforcement and signs) as the long term impact on the National Health Service and the national economy are very high if possible infections of people with Hepatitis and related water borne diseases continue unabated. Unfortunately it is the most accessible sea resort in Central Monrovia. This is the beach most widely used by lower income earners. Richer households suffer less, as those with cars use can reach more distant and clean beaches.

The contamination of soils, wells, estuaries and beaches is a result of the collapse of the system that used to control pollution and managing surface and wastewater flows. A tour of Monrovia during ESMP mission revealed the ruminants and indications of a relatively good urban services including good road networks, solid buildings and water and sanitation service that was relatively well planned in the past. The collapse of the system has led to health problems for a large number of people whose water is drawn from wells and open sources. The possibility for improvement is offered by the rehabilitation programme. EPA and LWSC will display pollution warnings on selected beaches.

Rather, less success will be achieved in reducing pollution discharge to the sea unless strict regulations are applied. In Monrovia water pollution cannot easily be addressed because the city has serious non-point sources of water pollution due to the city’s lack of sewers and drains in many parts or districts and peri-urban areas and the inadequate collection of solid waste (e.g. in Red Light area of Paynesville).

3.25 The Structural transformation of the landscape of the Project area

In Monrovia, the absence of any effective land use plan or other means to guide and control new development in the past decade, the city has expanded haphazardly – determined where households, residential areas, enterprises and public sector activities locate, legally and illegally. Uncontrolled physical growth has impact on the immediate districts around the city e.g. East Sinkor and Air Field highway or Duala in Bushrod much of which cannot be described as urban and yet is no longer rural. Within these areas Agriculture has disappeared as land is bought up by people or companies in anticipation of the increases in land value accompanying changes from Agricultural to urban use. There is a lack of effective public control of such land use changes or on the profits that can be made from them, even if it is public investment for example the proposed expansion of the road network and the water and sanitation system that will create much of the increase in land value. Rich property developers should contribute to the long term water and sanitation services extended to their properties through appropriate tariffs.

In the peri-urban areas of Monrovia, and to a large extent urban Monrovia, unplanned and uncontrolled city expansion has produced a patchwork of different developments, including businesses, industry and many high density residential settlements, interspersed with land that remains underdeveloped in anticipation of speculative gain (according to the locals). Development occurs through legal and illegal action by various landowners, builders and developers in an ad hoc way.

This uncontrolled and unregulated physical expansion of Monrovia’s built-up area has serious social and environmental consequences. This includes the segregation of low-income

35 | P a g e groups in the worst located often the most dangerous areas, to which it is difficult and expensive to provide water, sanitation and drainage. The haphazard expansion of Monrovia’s peri-urban areas settlements generally build into the city fabric greatly increased costs for providing basic infrastructure as new developments that need connection to networks of water mains and sewerage and drainage system spring up far from existing networks. The project will not be able to go round most of these difficulties. LWSC will implement pilot local sanitation facilities to serve these communities in the short term and will connect the local communities to local networks in the long term. This necessitates the need for a second or even a third sewage treatment lagoon in the long term.

Illegal and informal settlements (e.g. Most of Waterside, PHP and West Point) are concentrated on land sites already subject to flooding or at risk from houses collapsing or other hazards. These areas offer well located sites on which low income settlers have the best chance of establishing a home and/or avoiding eviction. But these are also land sites to which it is very difficult and expensive to extend basic water and sanitation infrastructure. In these estates communal water and sanitation facilities will be improved by the project to ensure that the acute problems are alleviated.

Most illegal settlements also have layouts and other site characteristics – such as unclear plot boundaries, unstable soils (sand in PHP areas) and lack of public rights of the way – which greatly increases the cost of public infrastructure provision. LWSC may be reluctant to install the needed infrastructure in illegal settlements or may be prohibited from doing so by the Ministry of Planning. LWSC will sort this out by using lifeline tariffs in these areas. Excluding these illegal settlers will not resolve the big problem: unnecessary loss of life. LWSC is planning local pilot sanitation projects to serve local communities that will have difficulties accessing the central system. In these areas public water taps and toilets are recommended. Active community participation will be maintained in order to protect the public infrastructure and to maintain orderliness in its use. The principles of community participation should be applied as well as working with NGOs and CBOs operating in the water and sanitation sector in the city. UNICEF will be a very resourceful partner.

3.26 Flood risks

Most of Monrovia faces risks from floods, in part because Monrovia is just 40-50m above sea level and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Montserrado estuary, and in part because Monrovia has large areas that are built over and thus impervious so that rain, flood water and wastewaters do not drain into the ground. Heavy rainfall in Central Monrovia, Bushrod and Sinkor produces large and rapidly flowing volumes of water. When floods occur, the fact that building are standing the way of flood water leads to large rapidly flowing flood water channels which are particularly destructive and often turn the streets into dangerous small rivers.

There are many links between good provision for water and sanitation, and disaster prevention and emergency preparedness. For instance a city with good sewerage, drainage and solid waste collection is also a city much better able to reduce the risk of flooding. Good quality housing and infrastructure reduces risks of collapse if flooding occurs.

In order to prevent pending flood disasters in Monrovia political and institutional mobilization of efforts and resources have to occur. It is widely accepted that the root causes of the deaths, injuries and damage caused by floods elsewhere in the world are the political and institutional failures to prevent or limit the damage that they cause. Floods in cities are not ‘natural’ because all cities should have provision to prevent them – or to make sure that

36 | P a g e very unusually natural events such as high rainfall or an unusual high tidal surge are managed without loss of life and with minimum damage to property. Disasters are liked with inadequate management of development process. There is also a risk accumulation process in poorly managed urban development. For instance, the urban districts of Monrovia expand over flood plains and up potentially unstable slopes; natural drainage channels are built over or blocked; drainage systems become less effective because of deposit of sit and urban waste; and growing built-up or paved areas reduce water infiltration into the soil. This means an increase in both hazard levels and vulnerability levels.

The current government and the international agencies in Monrovia should not neglect this link and concentrate only on the effect of disaster, not the causes. Building an efficient system to respond to disasters give the impression that that disasters are being managed, when in reality the population vulnerability remains the same or even gets worse as urban development leaves more people and their homes, neighbourhoods and infrastructure at risk. Urban expansion should not be allowed to take place without any effective governance system to ensure that environmental and social risks (of all kinds) are kept to a minimum.

The government of Liberia, its environmental agencies and international aid and donor agencies should begin to realise the need to take into account the causes of vulnerability and reduce risk levels, integrating hazard management into development process. So for example there should be flood warnings on the St Paul’s and other rivers to warn people about pending flooding. White Plains Treatment Plant would have responded by building sandbags embankments to protect the plant and the clear well if adequate flood warning system was built in the water and sanitation provision sector. Flood warning would have limited the economic damage to the plant on August 26/27 St Paul overflow. EPA should adopt a storm management model and LWSC water quality models for both ground water and river water.

3.27 Environmental Risks Summary

The population growth of Monrovia combined with post war economic crisis led to both legal and illegal occupation and development on very low-lying areas and steep slopes. Because the city is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Montserrado estuary the cost of providing water and sanitation infrastructure and services is very high, especially to too many irregular settlements. The lack of sewer and drainage system increases the risk of floods. A big flood occurred on 26th August which lasted until 29th August 2007, which submerged White Plains Water Treatment Plant.

Another problem worth repeating is that only small household wastes are collected; the rest are left in gorges and ravines, blocking the normal water flow and increasing the risks of floods and landslides. This problem is particularly serious in Red Light, most parts of Sinkor and Central Monrovia. New mechanisms should be developed to prevent and to manage floods through adequate town planning, warning systems and emergency preparedness. New mechanisms (both national and cross-border) should be developed to help prevent upstream activities from water related problems in Monrovia, measures taken in and around the city will also be necessary if flooding is to be avoided.

Structures to store water and dams and reservoirs for city use should be constructed in the medium and long term. The present programme has limited resources and the enormous challenges presented by Monrovia are beyond the scope of the current programme’s budget. There are challenges in protecting water sources and moderating storm flows as new urban developments occur within watersheds and surface water sources become polluted. There is

37 | P a g e increase in storm water flows (including storm and surface run off) with the expansion of impermeable surfaces and the extraction, use and disposal of available water sources.

There are new possibilities for disease vectors. The expansion of the built-up areas, the construction of roads, water reservoirs and drains together with land clearance and deforestation will effect drastic changes to the ecological system. The programme aims to minimise these impacts. The growth of Monrovia has impact on peri-urban agriculture. Monrovia is growing on fertile agricultural areas, and expanding new urban developments is covering high quality agricultural land, while water demand from urban based enterprises or consumers can pre-empt water previously used by farmers. Good governance and planning will reduce these impacts. The programme’s sensitisation component will incorporate the concept of ‘sustainable cities’ in water and sanitation management.

3.28 Institutional failures Poor Water Service and High Unaccounted-For-Water (UFW): The problem of water supply services is characterized by interruption due to breakdowns and long down time for maintenance. The situation is exacerbated by high UFW, amounting to 65-75% of the water production in most of the areas particularly in Monrovia. 80% of the UFW is attributed to leakage and 20% to illegal connections. The High UFW represents a serious constraint on effective service delivery, undermining the limited financial capability of the water utilities. It is expected that the on going rehabilitation initiative will improve the water and sanitation projects situation.

Lack of Enabling Environment: The absence of policies and strategies resulted in non- sustainable services with minimal benefits. In this transitional stage, activities are focused on implementation of individual projects without the robust enabling environment and planning instruments. In addition, there are no coherent coordination mechanisms among different stakeholders; fragmentation and duplication of efforts are common, leading to ambiguities in responsibilities among different entities. There is no water resources ministry and the MLME is now entrusted with water sector regulation. However, the MLME doesn’t have full fledged water department, a situation which negatively affects on water resources planning and development. Moreover, LWSC has a limited capacity for planning and development and is primarily working as a utility operator. Moreover, the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) is being phased out from rural water and sanitation sector, while there is no custodian to take over its responsibilities. The on going sector reform study will address this issue.

Human Resources Constraint: The human resources capacity in all organizations, at present, consists of skeletal staffing assigned during the transitional Government mandate. In addition, water institutions are poorly resourced. While the situation demands the participation of more engineers and other skilled staff to carry out the reconstruction efforts, the current low salary scale does not attract capable professionals. Human resources development is part of the on going sector reform study.

Low Financial Performance: The current budget of LWSC is limited amounting to about USD 200,000 per annum with low revenue amounting to 30% of water bills. This situation is attributed to inadequate tariff, weak billing & collection structure and high level of arrears The weak financial position of the LWSC has made it difficult to operate the systems efficiently. The on going rehabilitation programme supported by donors is expected to increase the water production and revenue collection, thereby strengthening the financial capacity of the LWSC to at least self sustain its utilities in the short run.

38 | P a g e Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System: The lack of monitoring data impacted negatively on sector development and there is a need to develop M&E mechanism on priority basis. This requires to establish the process of information generation, transmission, collection, analysis, storage and dissemination as well as development indicators for M&E. This concern is part of the on going sector reform study.

Harmonization of Donor Interventions: There is a lack of coordination to utilize common implementation instruments. At present, different procedures and processes are adopted by various donors affecting the progress in the much needed rehabilitation of water and sanitation systems in both rural and urban areas. However, there is an effort to coordinate water and sanitation activities by project by concerned institutions and the need to have a coordination mechanism cannot be overemphasized.

Community Participation: At present, there are no plans to engage in community mobilization and dissemination of information. This is especially important for sanitation, which is mostly a household responsibility. Dialogue with the population on provision and maintenance of affordable latrines is necessary for safeguarding the people's health.

3.3 Impacts associated with the rehabilitation of water supply facilities The water supply facilities to be rehabilitated include: distribution reservoirs; transmission mains pumping stations; distribution networks; White Plains Treatment Plant

3.31 Rehabilitation of the distribution reservoirs These works will involve the rehabilitation of two reservoirs at Ducor and Mamba point. This will also include the rehabilitation of Bushrod Island Booster pumping station and rehabilitation of reservoir and pumping station at Newport Street. Ducor reservoirs are elevated tanks whilst as the reservoir at Newport street is an elevated standpipe. These reservoirs were the best options available during the original construction of the system because the alternative surface reservoirs would not provide sufficient head to supply Central Monrovia. The Ducor, Mamba Point and Newport Street reservoirs are located tragically for maximum benefits. They are located near the centre of use. They are high enough to provide adequate pressures in the city. The central location decreases friction loses by reducing the distance from supply point to Central Monrovia.

The storage capacity of the Ducor reservoirs is a function of the number of people it was built to serve and the capacity of the distribution networks in Central Monrovia. The population of Monrovia has tripled and this storage capacity will not be adequate for sustainable supply of water in Central Monrovia in the long run. Their rehabilitation will involve lining their surface with granite, concrete and asphalted membrane. Some noise from the grinding of old surfaces and mixing of concrete as well as from concrete mixers and power generators will be temporary nuisance. There will be no significant environmental impacts during the rehabilitation of the distributing reservoirs. The reservoirs are located at high elevations and in places that are currently sparsely inhabited.

3.32 Rehabilitation of the transmission mains The length of transmission mains to be rehabilitated are almost 75km. Rehabilitation of the following transmission mains: (i) 36 inch pipeline from White Plains to Red Light, (ii) 16 inch pipeline from White Plains to Caldwell pipe, (iii) 16 inch pipeline from Bushrod island to Paynesville, (iv) 16 and 24 inch section of pipeline along the Atlantic drive, (v) 12 inch pipeline connection from Bushrod Island to Mamba point and to close circle to Mamba point pipeline. 39 | P a g e The rehabilitation works will involve the replacement of (i) sixty-two (62) Air Relief Valves along the 36” Main; (ii) twenty (20) Blow-off valves; (iii) nine (9) line valves; (iv) erection of seventy-nine (79) new concrete covers; (v) Construction of six (6) new concrete chambers; (vi) to elevate eight (8) concrete chambers by one (1) meter each; (vii) Repair of fifty-two (52) concrete chambers; eight (8) concrete covers; (ix) Painting and marking of all valve chambers and tops complete.

Pipelines are used in Monrovia because various topographic conditions preclude the use of canals or tunnels. Some of the pipelines will be laid above ground or partly buried. Most of the transmission mains will be built of concrete, steel, cast iron or plastic (Polyvinyl chloride, PVC or UPVC. Check valves will be located on the upstream to side of the pumping stations and at the beginning of each rise in the pipeline to prevent backflow. A large amount of construction material is needed for the rehabilitation of the water distribution and the sewerage pipe lines. The proposed pipelines rehabilitation sites are within or adjacent to roads residential areas, industrial areas, offices etc. The rehabilitation of the 36 inch pipeline from White Plains to Red Light and the 16 inch pipeline from White Plains to Caldwell will not pose a lot of environmental issues because they both pass through very sparsely populated peri-urban settlements. In fact the greatest portions of where these lines pass are not inhabited. However, the rehabilitation of the access roads through which these mains pass will involve the removal of several trees of diameters 6 inches or more. Some of the bushes through which these transmission mains pass through are now mature bushes. Central Monrovia, Bushrod Island and Paynesville districts are very congested areas with respect to infrastructure, people and motor traffic. Dust generated and construction material stored on- site during the construction could have short-term adverse impacts on the surrounding environment and the workers. Large amount of silt will be produced during the rehabilitation activities. Construction activities for the transmission mains will involve the use of construction machinery and vehicles. Construction activities may produce vibrations, air pollution, muddy runoff, safety hazards, sewage from construction personnel, solid waste and debris, spoils, and traffic congestion especially in urban Paynesville, Sinkor, and Central Monrovia which are already severely congested places. Noise and vibration are generated during construction by construction machinery, including excavators, concrete mixers, and transportation vehicles. Generally, construction noise exceeding a noise level of 70 decibels (dB) has significant impacts on surrounding sensitive receptors within 50m of the construction site, especially during the rehabilitation of the water treatment plant and treated water distribution system

3.33 Rehabilitation of the distribution networks Rehabilitation of the distribution system covers about 200 km of secondary and tertiary pipes in the following areas: (i) Paynesville Community, (ii) Congo Town/Old Road Communities, (iii) Sinkor/Airfield Communities, (iv) Bushrod Island Community, and (v) Central Monrovia Com- munity. The AfDB/DFID will contribute in the detailed designs and rehabilitation works of the distribution system. The system is ordinarily designed to adequately satisfy the water requirements for a combination of domestic, commercial, industrial and fire-fighting purposes. The distribution system is expected to be capable of meeting the demands placed on it at all times and at satisfactory pressures. Pipe systems, pumping stations, storage facilities, fire hydrants, house service connections, meters, and other appurtenances are the main elements of the system.

The system configuration will be a crossbreed between a grid system and branching systems. This is dictated primarily by formal and informal street patterns, topography and the types of developments in the programme area. However, the majority of the system will be built on a grid system since it had furnished supplies in Monrovia for many decades before the war and is also

40 | P a g e the current system layout. The distribution system will be built to withstand pressures available in the system and for a basic rate of flow. The pressures will be great enough to adequately meet consumer needs. They will range from 40 to 50 psig

LWSC plans to relocate some of the distribution lines because in Congo Town, Sinkor and Air- field districts majority of the settlements were not connected in the old system. Some of the distribution lines have now been damaged and built over by informal settlers. New demarcations and routes are now required for the distributions in order to ensure good coverage. These works will not involve major excavations and the spoil can all be returned back into the pits. Most of the labour will be manual and heavy machinery is not required. The supply line will be small vans and light goods vehicles. Cement mixers will not be required noise, and vibration produ- cing machinery will not be required. However, dust will be generated and where the geology poses a challenge heavy machinery will be brought to clear the obstacle. A lot of these pipes will also be laid in flood risk areas including culverts and swamps. There are solid waste problems in these localities without the need to be very specific. A lot of this solid waste will be disturbed during the rehabilitation activities. A lot of red dust will be generated. Because of the lack proper plot boundaries and land demarcations a lot of negotiations will have to take place between the various land owners about access to main supplies.

3.34 Rehabilitation of the White Plains Treatment Plant This component consists of rehabilitation of the following components of White Plains Water Treatment Plant (WTP):

Raw Water intake: - Installation of two (2) new low lift pumps and control panels to pumping units. Servicing of non-return valves and butterfly valves; Installation of one (1) new 350 KVA Generator ;

Dosing Units: - Installation of (i) Dosing /vibrating motors for alum and lime, (ii) 3 motors for mixer, alum; lime (iii) 3 Actuators for dosing mechanism, (iv) repairs to the electrical hoist; (v) Stainless steel distribution box to be coated with fiber-glass material.

Flocculation/Mixing Basin:- Replacement or servicing of all flocculation paddles shaft, butterfly valve, inlet pipe and 2 telescope gate valves inlet pipe, 2 drainage valves, bearings for shafts in 4 mixing basins; 4 motors of the new mixing basins.

Settling Basins: (i) install basin drain submersible pump with accessories (guide) (ii) pipes, supports, chains (iii) Servicing/repairing of discharge butterfly valve and sludge drain butterfly valve (v) Angle steel for support/u-bolts, complete cleaning and new coating

Sand Filters: Installation of (i) various types of valves for main inlet/outlet/back wash, filtered water; (ii) Actuators for all types of valves , (iii) Pressure gauges; (iv) Flow meter diaphragm between flanges on back wash water; (v) Hydraulic distributors; (vi) Steel pipes for hydraulic pipes with accessories (vii) Sump pump, (viii) Flange adaptors; Pressure transmitters (head loss) and level transmitters for sand filters new; (ix) Blind flange for cancellation of wash water (x) Angle steel support/U-bolts; (xi) Control desk.

Backwash: (i) Back wash tank to be rehabilitated; (ii) new Level switches LSL/LSH/LAL/LAH to be fixed; (iii) install Butterfly valve outlet tank with gear box and stem;(iv) Install Inlet butterfly valve on suction common pipe in pumping room, (v) install Suction butterfly valve with wheel and indicator; (vi) rehabilitate pumps WORTHINGTON Centrifugal/horizontal type 6IR10 25m/2503/h; (vii) Install motors for pumps general electric type;

41 | P a g e High Lift Pumps: (i) Installation of 5 ton Manual hoist; (ii) Repair two Ivecco Diesel Engines and replace Pumps with complete spare parts.

The production of the WTP will be increased from 7,500 m3 to 50% of its installed capacity (60,000 m3/d and beyond. The rehabilitation works will include civil works and electromechanical equipment for various units of the plant. These works will have no direct impact on the communities of Monrovia except for the temporary and intermittent disruption of services during rehabilitation works because the treatment plant is 2 Km from the nearest village and is nearly 45km from Monrovia. Any vibrations and noise from the mechanical engineering activities will be confined within the plant. Electrical engineering within the treatment plant carries risks of fire and electrical shocks. Moreover, the repair process of old pumps and generators will involve the exposure of lubricating oils or other flammable hydrocarbons. Staff will also be exposed to chemicals (flocculants, chlorine powders and neutralisers). Flocs are rich in metals and organic compounds as well as some pathogenic organisms. All these are hazardous to health and may provoke allergic reactions.

3.4 Impacts Associated with the Rehabilitation of the Sanitation system

This component of the programme involves the rehabilitation of 4 sewage pumping stations; repair works of critical sections of the sewerage network and force mains; repair works of the major parts of the sewage stabilization ponds, which have an area of 26,000 m2. The AfDB/DFID will cover this activity; construction of 11 new public toilets; rehabilitation of 20 to 30 existing public toilets; supply of maintenance equipment including a vacuum truck, jetting equipment, along with the necessary tools and undertaking environmental sensitization campaigns. The AfDB/DFID will contribute in this activity.

3.41`Rehabilitation of the sewage pumps The Sewerage system consists of some 38 miles (61 km) of sewers and force mains serving major portions of downtown Monrovia, Bushrod Island and Sinkor areas. The System consists of four (4) sewage-pumping stations, comprising: (i) New Kru Town, (ii) Sayon Town (iii) Montserrado, and (iv) B.T. C. Sewage Pumping Stations

The Pumping stations were vandalized with their electromechanical components looted. The civil structures remained practically intact with doors removed and windows broken. The wet wells are filled with sludge and wastewater that need to be dewatered and desludged during the rehabilitation of the pumps. The stations fence were also dismantled and taken away. The sludge gates, spindle shaft, handrails and manhole tops are all damaged. The programme will rehabilitate these four sewage flow booster pumps which were originally designed to run on electricity. They will now be powered by diesel generators which carry additional running costs namely fuel, lubrication oils, maintenance, spare parts etc and pollution from exhausts and waste lubricating oils. There is a risk of staff rehabilitating the pumps coming in contact with live sewage which is in thick sludge in the wet well following long periods of settlement, decay and compaction. There is a risk of fire from the repair of electromechanical equipment. The area around the New Kru Town sewage pump areas is highly congested and there are informal settlers 4 meters from the pump housing. There is a high risk of food contamination by the sludge that is going to be removed from the wet well. There will be a lot of flies vectoring sewage pathogens. There will be a lot of noise from the diesel generator and the pump unit.

3.42 Rehabilitation of sewers and sewage lagoon

42 | P a g e The Vai Town Bridge 10” Force Main is out of service. It used to connect Bushrod Island to the Central Sewer Network. Presently, the Island sewer network is disconnected from the rest of the Monrovia Sewerage System. The conduit was previously damaged due to corrosion. It was repaired, but later stolen by unknown looters. Hence, to facilitate the collection and transmission of the wastewater from Bushrod Island to the sewerage lagoon, it is important to have this portion of the force main reconstructed. The outflows are damaged and need to be reconstructed to ensure the constant free flow of sewage to the disposal points. They consist of concrete closed channels with steel gates mounted with bolts and nuts. There is also the need for cleaning and dredging of Sewage Pond, Lagoon, Bar Screen and Grit Basin:

All of these facilities were left dormant over the years, covered with overgrowth of weeds and the huge accumulation of massive sludge. As a result, the effective capacities of these basins have been reduced and can no longer contain the huge volume of sludge expected. Hence, the brushing, cleaning and desludging of these facilities will increase their capacities, thus facilitating the disposal of sewage. Sewage transporting and disposal in the ocean is not satisfactory. Currently there are only the following desludging Vacuum trucks for the entire population: (i) 1 No LWSC, (ii) 2 No UNMIL and (iii) 1 private sector. The purchase of 1 desludging vacuum truck is of high importance to clean and dispose the waste accumulated over the years in the sewer lines.

The environmental impacts of the rehabilitation of sewerage flow network are similar to those outlined above for the rehabilitation of the distribution mains and distribution network with respect to the civil construction works requirements and their associated public safety and environmental problems. However, an additional impact lies on the high risk of exposure of staff who are involved in these works to pathogenic infections. Most of the sewer lines are blocked and contain dense sludge. Sewage contains micro-organisms that can cause serious illnesses such as diarrhoeas, hepatitis, skin diseases and eye infections. These diseases can be contracted by staff through cuts, inhalation, skin and splashes that may enter the mouth. There will be stench when these works are going on and there is also the problem of flies vectoring sewage pathogens. Food premises will be at risk of contamination by flies visiting or originating from these facilities and the likelihood of transmitting waterish diarrhoea and other diseases. 3.43 Rehabilitation the primary settlement tanks/basins

Sedimentation tanks will be used to reduce suspended solids in the influent sewage. Sewage is gathered from Central Monrovia and surrounding communities via the Interceptor sewers, which were constructed in the early 1960’s and are going to be rehabilitated by the project to divert raw sewage from the beaches. They enter the works via a pair of siphons, and are then subjected to the first process, screening on a pair of inclined screens. This removes the "rags", objects larger than 6mm. The rehabilitation of these settlement basins is necessary to ensure that quality of sewage entering the sewage lagoon is good for living organisms and can quickly be processed by duckweed. The settlement tanks at Fiama are conventional reinforced concrete structures, which still maintain their structural strength. Their rehabilitation involves replacement of their mechanical scrappers, inclining screens, inlet siphons, walls and floors. The inlet zone transforms the influent flow to uniform transition flows, a sedimentation zone where the particles settle out of suspension by gravity, an outlet zone for transition of uniform flow in the sedimentation zone, to rising flow for discharge, and a sludge zone where the settled particles collect. Fiama treatment plant is isolated from settlements and the public. Its rehabilitation will not impact on the public. It will not affect traffic. The precautions needed during its rehabilitation are similar to those of the rehabilitation of the sewage lagoon. There will be no significant environmental impacts from the rehabilitation works.

43 | P a g e

3.44 Rehabilitation and Construction of public toilets The project will construct and rehabilitate 20 pit latrines. Two types of latrines will be built by the project depending on the location. For those locations where the sewer system operates the toilets will be built over existing sewers. These will require no digging. In locations where the sewer system does not extend pits will be excavated. The construction of toilets on existing sewers will have very little environmental impact. However, for those toilets where digging of pits is involved some environmental impacts such as risk of contamination of groundwater, creation spoil that need to be disposed as well as removal of tress. Management problems on public toilets services can be challenging. These are a few of the anticipated problems: Cost for use of toilet facility and people’s wellness or ability to pay; wrong behaviour of public toilet using manner ; lack of care to keep public toilets clean while using them; smells; disputes and security of fittings.

3.5 Impacts associated with the operation of the water supply system

These impacts include: Impact from the maintenance and protection of reservoirs; impacts from operation of distribution mains; impacts from operation of the distribution system and impacts from operation of Water Treatment Plant

3.51 Operation of the distribution reservoirs No negative environmental impacts are expected from the operation of the elevated reservoirs. One of the reservoirs, the Mamba Point, has provided an aesthetic benefit in the recreational area of the Monrovia Hotel yet to be rehabilitated. The risk of instability of the reservoir is low as existing managed trees surround the reservoir. The reservoir is also surrounded by solid granite rocks that protect it from any vehicles that may miss the road. Risk of reservoir failure is low due to the high geological stability at the site, low probability of severe earthquake in the region. In addition, tornadoes severe enough to cause the reservoir to fail are not known in the region. Leakage at the reservoir foundations or any parts of them is not expected because reservoirs were not hit by bombs during the war. Pressure from ground water is not expected because the reservoirs were located on elevations well above the water table. However, in the unlikely event of a crack by a major event the Ducor and Mamba Point reservoir will cause a major flooding and destruction along the path of its rushing path.

3.52 Operation of the transmission mains and distribution pipelines Major impacts from operation and maintenance of water pipelines are associated with repair and replacement activities when there are leaks or breaks on pipelines. Leaks from transmission mains cause major flooding and damage to private infrastructure. Leaks from distribution lines produce large volumes of unaccounted-for water. Human exposure to biting insects or contaminated waters provides the conditions necessary for an increased health risk. The most important negative impact to be anticipated during the operational phase of the pipelines will be the increase in the volume of water consumed and of waste water generated by 750,000 people when the water supply and sanitation system is in full operation. One important group of health risks, vector-borne diseases, has received considerable attention in development sectors associated with water resources, such as irrigation, leaked pipes, blocked drainages/gutters, reservoirs and sewage lagoons. Monrovia is not excluded from such risks. Such developments change the distribution and flow of surface waters, creating a favourable habitat for vector breeding. Human exposure to biting insects or contaminated waters provides the conditions necessary for an increased health risk.

44 | P a g e 3.53 Operation of Treatment plant Noise generated during water treatment operation comes from pumps and blowers, and is usually contained within the plant. The water treatment plant will be powered with a 350KVA diesel generator, which may emit amounts of air pollutants. Chlorine leakage can result in serious injury to workers and property damage. Paradoxically large volumes of treated water are used every day to wash the sand bed filters. A large amount of floc containing clay particles, metals, organic compounds, pathogens and other constituents will be produced on a daily basis and is toxic to health due to its metallic constituents and the fitness of the particles (mostly montmorillonite and vermiculite as well as organic particulates and bacteria). Approximately 300 gallons of waste lubrication oil will be produced by the 350KVA generator. This waste oil is toxic to the environment.

3.6 Impacts of the Operation of the Sanitation System These are the environmental and social impacts of the operational phase of the sanitation system. They include impacts from the operation of the sewerage pumps, sewers, sewage lagoon and the public toilets. In as much as the operation of the system will bring about a major improvement in the environment of Monrovia, negative impacts of a poorly run system can be very high.

3.61 Operation of sewage pumps They need to be powered by diesel generators due to lack of municipal electricity supplies. Their running cost will be higher than pre-war running costs. There will be noise from the generators and the pumps themselves. The pumps will also emit atmospheric pollutants. In addition to these impacts sewage leakage from joints, which is common on poorly maintained pump units pose health risk to workers that come in contact with it similar to those encountered during the repair of operating sewers. Sewage contains disease causing pathogens.

3.62 Operation of the sewers and sewage lagoon The term sewage may be used to mean raw sewage, sewage sludge, or septic tank waste. Raw sewage is mainly water containing excrement, industrial effluent and debris, such as sanitary towels, condoms, plastic etc. Excrement is the major source of harmful micro-organisms, including bacteria, viruses and parasites. Sewage lagoons do change the natural balance of ecosystems. They affect aquatic and terrestrial boundaries as well as the air. They also do pose health problems and risks to those that come in contact with them – the public health workers, and to inhabitants of surrounding settlements. Bad and offensive odours can devastate communities living very close to poorly managed sewage lagoons. Staff who work in the following areas, may be at risk:  LWSC employees involved in sewer inspection and maintenance work  Construction workers who repair or replace live sewers  LWSC employees who work with sewage treatment plant  Community members, especially children who may be exposed to sewage sludge innocently  plumbers  Employees who clean types of portable lavatories. Exposure to sewage or its products may result in a number of illnesses. These include:  Gastroenteritis, characterized by cramping stomach pains, diarrhoea and vomiting

45 | P a g e  Weil's disease, a flu-like illness with persistent and severe headache, transmitted by rat urine. Damage to liver, kidneys and blood may occur and the condition can be fatal  Hepatitis, characterized by inflammation of the liver, and jaundice  Occupational asthma, resulting in attacks of breathlessness, chest tightness and wheezing, and produced by the inhalation of living or dead organisms  Infection of skin or eyes  Rarely, allergic alveolitis (inflammation of the lung) with fever, breathlessness, dry cough, and aching muscles and joints The above conditions may be contracted by workers or members of the public who come into contact with live sewage through the following ways:  The most common way is by hand-to-mouth contact during eating, drinking and smoking, or by wiping the face with contaminated hands or gloves, or by licking splashes from the skin.  By skin contact, through cuts, scratches, or penetrating wounds, i.e. from discarded hypodermic needles. Certain organisms can enter the body through the surfaces of the eyes, nose and mouth.  By breathing them in, as dust, aerosol or mist.

3.63 Operation of the settlement tanks

Sewage flows through a screen to take out paper and plastic that has been flushed down toilets. The screen should let water through freely. This litter is cleaned and sent to the adjacent landfill site. Wastewater flows into large tanks where biological solids sink to the bottom and become sludge. In particular, the importance of a correctly sized inlet stilling chamber, to reduce the feed velocity to around 0.003–0.005 m/s to allow settlement of sludge. Mechanical scrapers clear the sludge out. Large amount of sludge is produced during the operation of the settlement tanks. Sewage sludge is the main liability of water treatment. The treatment and final disposal cost of sewage sludge represents 50% of the overall cost of the wastewater treatment process in many countries.

Total heavy metal content in the sludge is generally about 0.5 to 2.0% of total dry weight, but in some cases, especially in industrialized countries it reaches up to 4%. Specifically, the toxic metal content in dewatered sludge obtained from sewage treatment facilities located in municipal and industrial districts often exceeds the maximum limit by several 10-folds. The US Environmental Protection Agency has recently documented a list of 25 primary pathogens in sewage sludge. Most of the 25 pathogens are very deadly to humans and animals. Although the 5 bacteria pathogens Campylobacter Jejuni and Escherichia primarily cause a relative mild case of diarrhea, Salmonella, Shigetla and Vibrio cholerae effect the gastrointestinal tract and can be fatal.

Of the 9 viruses, Entroviruses or Picornaviruses (152 species) pathogens can cause gastrointestinal problems, respiratory problems and can also be fatal. Poliovirus (3 species) pathogens cause inflammation of the grey matter of the spinal cord. Coxsackievirus A (23 species), B (6 species) pathogens are mostly mild, but they can cause inflammation of the heart in newborns. While Echovirus (31 species) pathogens primarily cause inflammation of the heart, spinal cord and brain, Hepatitis A virus pathogens cause liver problems and can lead to death. Norwalk viruses and Norwalk like virus pathogens cause mostly diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and Rotavirus causes acute gastroenteritis.

46 | P a g e The 5 Helminth pathogens primarily,( Hookworms, Tapeworms and Nematode Worms) cause damage to vital organs, brain, retina vessels, liver, lung and heart. The 5 Protozoan pathogens cause intestinal, respiratory, and liver problems.

The one fungi pathogen, Aspergillus, causes inflamed tissues in bronchi, lungs, aural canal, skin and membranes of the eye, nose or urethra.

3.64 Operation of the Public toilets Pit latrines are in situ sanitation. The point to be made in this document is that in situ sanitation can be very good quality but also very bad quality. LWSC need to do a lot to support good quality. Management problems on public toilets services can be challenging. These are a few of the anticipated problems that need to be planned for: Cost for use of toilet facility and people’s willingness or ability to pay; wrong behaviour of public toilet using manner; lack of care to keep public toilets clean while using them; The need to increase public toilets to meet internal standards; Good sanitation and hygiene education and sensitization; there should be no offensive odours; there should be sufficient number for service users or waiting time should be satisfactory; provide toilets that are accessible to disabled and elderly people; provide facilities such as tissues papers/water and diaper- changing etc; provide hand washing facilities; provide a beautiful and tidy landscape and enhancing surround. The creation of a management body for sanitation will mitigate these problems through innovative and consistent use of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) procedures and activities.

Lack of proper public toilets is not just an inconvenience but has health risks as discussed in earlier in Section 2(iv). The unsafe disposal of human waste spreads diseases like diarrhoea and the intentional delay in relieving oneself that results from lack of toilets can lead to serious complications. Explaining the point, in order to avoid visiting public toilets, some people avoid drinking water even during the summer or dry season. Unnecessary holding back of urine is very dangerous for the kidneys. People must go to the toilet as soon as the need for it arises. The project will facilitate the use of toilets as soon as they are needed.

In a random interview with members of the public in this mission, 39% of survey respondents feared picking up germs in a public restroom more than any other place. Without getting too specific, there are many germs that can thrive in toilets. Bacteria live off of moisture and organic food (or waste) which can be plentiful in public restrooms. Fears of contacting STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) from a public washroom have more to do with the fear of the disease than the likelihood of picking it up in a washroom. Many of these bacteria and viruses do not live long enough outside the body to be easily transmitted. However, some experts admit there is a theoretical risk of herpes or crabs being contracted under certain - but unlikely - conditions. Of greater concern are salmonella and shigella bacteria which can be transferred by contact with faeces. The infected person can transmit the bacteria on their hands which can then be transferred to flushing handles, door handles and faucets. The project will provide hygiene facilities and safeguards for infection control in the public toilets.

Foul odours, lack of supplies and puddles on the floors can all be signs of improper maintenance. A lack of supplies (toilet paper, hand drying towels or soap) can also increase the unhygienic conditions of a toilet. Overly crowded toilets can suffer from a lack of supplies or a lack of available sinks, soap dispensers or dryers. Odour that comes from public toilets can be caused by urine in tile grouting. If the floors aren't properly cleaned daily (or more) then the uric acid salts will not be removed with regular cleansers. These salts provide a food source for bacteria whose digestive processes give off the foul odour. LWSC will use 47 | P a g e products like RexoGuard, Whitex/chlora and Dettol to reduce the maintenance required to keep bacteria growth to a minimum.

4.0 Enhancement and mitigation

The proposed works entail rehabilitation of the existing water treatment plant and replacement of the transmission pipelines and distribution network. Upgrading these facilities is aimed at improving the present water supply situation in Monrovia. As there are no sensitive natural habitats affected adversely or resettlement required the proposed works are assigned environmental category II. From the environmental and social perspectives especially poverty reduction, the present project aims at improving both human health and natural environment through rehabilitation of water supply system and provision of sanitation facilities. Replacement of all deteriorated equipment together with improved operation and maintenance will ensure that installed capacity is restored and that the system works efficiently. The resultant improvement in quality of delivery of the water service will also eliminate the present danger of contamination, a problem exacerbated by the serious water leakage in the distribution system. Once implemented, the project will undoubtedly impact positively on the water supply situation and health conditions of the population. In addition, it will improve access to more economic opportunities, hygienic public sanitation facilities, and awareness raising and hygiene.

4.1 Enhancement of Monrovia living environment First and foremost, to enhance the Monrovia human environment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia will approve and enforce watershed protection measures necessary to protect Monrovia’s water source quality, including measures regulating land use, water extraction, and industrial activities in and around the city. In order to prevent pending flood and water borne diseases disasters in Monrovia political and institutional mobilization of efforts and resources have to occur. The government of Liberia, its environmental Protection and Planning Agencies and international aid and donor agencies should begin to realise the need to take into account the causes of vulnerability and reduce risk levels, integrating hazard management into development process. The interaction of institutional and political measures will strengthen the reduction of the impacts of the water and sanitation programme both in the short and long term.

4.2 Mitigation of impacts arising from the rehabilitation and operation of water supply system 4.21 Reservoirs Reservoirs take land from the natural environment permanently, but the high socioeconomic benefits are acceptable tradeoffs.

4.22 Treatment plant During the repairs of the White Plans Treatment Plant, very little dust will be generated from the engineering works. Any vibrations and noise from the mechanical engineering activities will be confined within the plant. Faulty metal components replaced will be gathered and disposed to scrap metal collectors. Fire extinguishers for electrical (CO2) and wood fires (H2O) will be fitted. High pressure hoses for fire fighting will be fitted in the plant. Staff will be trained to take the appropriate actions in the event of a fire. Fire and smoke alarms will be fitted for early warnings.

48 | P a g e Noise generated in water treatment operation comes from pumps and blowers, and is usually contained within the plant. Mitigation measures include (i) putting high noise equipment indoors; (ii) installing noise enclosures or buffers; (iii) and establishing a greenbelt buffer of 15-30m around the plant, and between the office zone and the water treatment units. The White Plain Treatment Plant is isolated and the generators are enclosed indoors. Restricted entry will be applied to non essential workers.

Equipment will be installed for automated control of the chlorine treatment. An operations manual for this and other equipment will be provided by the suppliers, and training on operational safety and emergency procedures will be provided as part of the capacity building component of the project. Periodic training and practice sessions on safe operational procedures will be held after the plant is rehabilitated. Detectors are to be installed; so that the chlorine feed system will automatically shut down when a leak is detected. When chlorine leak concentration exceeds alarm limits, a ventilator will start automatically. For large chlorine leaks, a chlorine scrubber system or an alkaline system can automatically start up to absorb the chlorine and contain the leak within the chlorine building. Other measures include minimizing the amount of chlorine stored on-site; installing alkaline recycling equipment (if a chlorine scrubber system is not installed); allocating a buffer zone around the chlorine warehouse and workshop; providing gas masks and oxygen tanks to workers; establishing workers operational safety and emergency procedures before plant start-up; and providing periodic training and practice sessions on safe operational procedures.

LWSC have discharged floc downstream of White Plains for decades. The system was designed like that. However, in recent years, this practice has been questioned by environmental organisation. The principal environmental concerns degradation of waters downstream build up of floc in estuaries and toxicity to estuarine species and marine life. Contaminants involved are the same as those related to disposal on land – heavy metal, pathogens and organic pollutants. Dewatered sludge (floc) from the water treatment plant has been recycled in the local brick production industry in many countries, or disposed of into controlled floc wells (which are actually floc land fills) in a safe manner, preventing contamination of delivery routes and the landfill site. The floc should be biologically stabilised to reduce pathogens before disposal. Presently floc is discharged back downstream into the St Paul River. LWSC will discontinue the discharge of floc into the river.

Waste oil from generators and other lubricated equipment is toxic to the environment and should be collected and disposed of in a safe manner. Presently, in Liberia this oil is used in the lumber industry to lubricate chain saws. This appears to be a safe and cost effective disposal method because it is scattered in small concentrations over a wide area where it will have no significant local environmental impact. There is only a small risk to water sources. LWSC will examine the containers where burnt oil is collected and ensure that it is securely stored and transported in a safe manner. EPA will prohibit the storage of this oil in public places.

4.23 Distribution lines - rehabilitation

Measures to be adopted to minimize dust generation during construction include (i) spreading water on dusty roads; (ii) maintaining water content in construction materials; (iii) covering or enclosing transportation vehicles, controlling the speed of vehicles, and selecting transportation routes to minimize impact on dust sensitive receivers; (iv) covering or watering open spoil or storage sites; and (vi) minimizing on-site storage time of construction materials. Dust and mud will also be controlled by construction of containing wooden walls to control muddy runoff, and timely restoration of disturbed land to minimize the adverse impacts on

49 | P a g e vegetable crops where they are in significant proximity. The contractors will ensure that spoils are confined and their spread controlled by constant gathering with shovels. Environmental protection measures in connection with rehabilitation operations will be implemented as integral parts of the engineering contracts. Good practices such as dust reduction, provision of storm runoff detention ponds, controlled disposal of spoil material, and washing of truck tires before leaving the construction site are some of the environmental protection measures that will be adopted in the contract specifications.

Noise production will be controlled by the rehabilitation contractors. Major abatement measures include (i) no night-time construction using heavy machinery, from 22:00 to 6:00 near residential areas; (ii) good maintenance and proper operation of construction machinery to minimize noise generation; (iii) installation of temporary sound barriers if necessary; and (iv) selection of transport routes for large vehicles to avoid residential areas.

To protect property and enhance safety of people, the contractor has to make sure that the necessary arrangements to localize on sites all the obstacles he could encounter during the works. He will have to conform himself, when encountering obstacles, to the disposition of the EPA regulations. The public utilities will not be responsible in case of damage by the contractor to existing elements such as pipes, telephone, electric and phone cables and other underground lines.

During the works and until final approval, if necessary the contractor will make the arrangement to guarantee a normal, undisturbed and safe circulation of traffic. Possible diversion will be kept in good conditions at the contractor’s own expense. In case of bad condition of diversions or roads, the recovering works can be done by the public utilities or for them, at the contractor’s own expense after a previous announce of 48 hours given service order in accordance with road traffic law of Liberia. The works should be signalized day and night by traffic signals panels and described barriers, placed at a regular distance. The contractor has to conform himself to the orders of the LWSC in this matter. All the costs resulting of the application of the disposition of the current article are at the contractor’s own expense.

The contractor will take care of the pipes being posed on compacted sand layer of 20cm thickness, the back fill to the bottom of the road foundation will also be done with compacted sand. The contractor will make if necessary transversally to the trench, two concrete walls at both ends of the crossed road in order to avoid sand to exit the road zone. Before opening a trench, the road pavements have to be properly cut off following two parallel lines delimiting the excavation zone.

When pipelines will follow or cross over the road, the road structure will be nearly being done as follows:  Lateritic tracks – a cement-soil mix composed of natural soil with 0/40 grading and cement 210/325 in the proportion of 150Kg/m3, will be placed over a thickness equal to those of the road foundation and at least of 30cm and within a limit of the trench width increased with 20cm here and there.  Tarred road and paths- it will be proceeded as described above for the foundation. The covering will be realized with a material equivalent to the existing tar following the norms and public directives. In all the cases the contractor will do carefully the joints between the recovered road and the existing one and the road side ditch. No surplus for this will be accepted. The contactor will take care of immediate repairing of the settlement that can occur and may be considered as exceptional if works are done the

50 | P a g e state of the art. The contractor will install a statutory signalization during the works and until the covering of the road.

All the vehicles and construction machinery should be operated in compliance with relevant vehicle emission standards of Liberia and with proper maintenance to minimize air pollution.

Refuse generated by construction/rehabilitation workers, construction spoil material, and other solid waste could have adverse impacts on the surrounding environment and traffic. The most practical and effective mitigation measure is timely cleanup. In addition, on-site refuse will be stored in closed containers. Metal pipes should be parked and disposed of to scrap metal companies. Old concrete pipes will be crushed and dumped or recycled in construction. Asbestos will be handled with greater care and disposed of by burying.

Mitigation measures for traffic congestion, air pollution, and inconvenience to pedestrians and shop owners problems in treated include regulating traffic at the road crossings, building interim roads, selecting transport routes to reduce disturbance to regular traffic, diverting traffic at peak traffic hours, and reinstating the roads as soon as possible. If possible, the water mains should be installed during the initial construction of new roads, or reconstruction of existing roads.

Temporary suspension of services from existing underground utilities (water) pipelines, and communication and power cables), especially in central Monrovia and industrial areas will be avoided by the contractor by obtaining maps and avoidance of other utilities considered carefully. Emergency measures should be in place to minimize adverse impacts. Diversions will be created to allow free flow of water and prevention of flooding.

Where trees are to be removed the topsoil will be preserved and original vegetation will be recovered or replanted after construction. No significant adverse impacts will be imposed on the local ecological environment.

4.24 Distribution lines - operation Major impacts from operation and maintenance of water pipelines are associated with repair and replacement activities when there are leaks or breaks on pipelines. A program would be established by LWSC to detect leaks and replace old pipelines to minimize the risk of water supply interruption. Good quality materials will be used during the rehabilitation of pipelines in the first place. The communal water points (public taps, tanks) and sanitation facilities (public toilets) are expected to be designed and constructed in such a way as to ensure proper operation and minimal impacts on the environment, preventing water stagnation and avoiding the risk of groundwater contamination and development of breeding ground for mosquitoes, flies and other insects. Such care will minimize the transmission of water borne diseases and malaria. Before implementation, the sanitation facilities will undergo extensive investigation to minimize impacts, especially on water resources and health. The Community Sensitizations and Capacity Building Component will be used to mobilize and sensitize the local community of the environmental health hazards associated with water infection, poor drainage and the need to keep the facilities clean. Information, education and communication (IEC) materials will be developed and distributed to raise public awareness. Use of mass education through the TV and radio will be practiced.

The project has integrated a sub component on sensitization, particularly targeting women on the significance of proper hygiene, cleanliness, water conservation, environmental protection and water-related diseases. Men would also be brought on board to make them understand their roles and responsibilities. It is viewed that such campaigns would help to change the attitude and

51 | P a g e culture of both men and women on their role and responsibility in maintaining a proper hygiene at home and in the surrounding

4.25 Wastage of water at the point of use

The opportunity for technological change at government and interagency levels to affect water use is significant. In factories, water saving devices, process designs that reduce industrial water requirements, and modified plan and vegetable varieties are amongst the many possibilities for reducing water use technologically. The rehabilitation of industries is a good opportunity to introduce water saving measures. EPA, LWSC or MLME will provide general guidelines to developers on water saving initiatives.

Changes in the cost of water have obvious implications for quantities of water used in various sectors. It is well known that many water users in Monrovia pay only a fraction of the cost of developing and furnishing their water supplies. This has led to inefficient use and has fostered resistance to applying a fair price for the water used. Water use forecasting is an art and science of looking ahead; it is the core of planning processes and should be integrated, encouraged and practiced by the project. Options for selecting a forecasting procedure range from the exercise of judgments based on trends to the use of complex mathematical models. Forecasts are required for periods varying from less than a day to more than 50 years. Good records on temporal water demands are necessary for good forecasts.

4.3 Rehabilitation and operation of the sanitation system

4.31 Mitigating/enhancing sewage booster pumps During the rehabilitation of the sewage flow booster pumps old parts will be cleaned, stored and disposed of appropriately. Staff will wear protective clothing and have access to hygiene facilities. Staff will be trained to handle sewage contaminated equipment. Atmospheric emissions from the diesel generators and those from the ones powering the sewage lift pumps will be controlled and minimized by regular servicing and maintaining them in good working order. The waste oils will be disposed of in a safe manner. Informal settler near the pump housing will be give advice to leave. The sensitisation programme will also target them to ensure that they understand the health associated with living close to a wet well and sewage pump.

4.32 Enhancement of sewers and sewage lagoons A properly managed sewage lagoon can help reduce some of the potential health problems associated with sewage (these problems include Hepatitis A and viral meningitis). The direction of the sewage lagoon from the city residences also is important. Sewage treatment reduces the water content and removes debris, but does not kill or remove all the micro- organisms.  Several work activities by LWSC bring workers into contact with sewage and sewage products.  Each year, some workers will suffer from at least one episode of work-related illness.  The majority of illnesses are relatively mild cases of gastroenteritis, but potentially fatal diseases, such as leptospirosis (Weil's disease) and hepatitis, are also possible to be contracted.  However, there could well be significant under-reporting of cases because there is often failure to recognise the link between illness and work. Staff who works in the following areas, may be at risk:  LWSC employees involved in sewer inspection and maintenance work 52 | P a g e  Construction workers who repair or replace live sewers  LWSC employees who work with sewage treatment plant  Community members who may be exposed to sewage sludge during farming activities  plumbers  Employees who clean types of portable lavatories. Exposure to sewage or its products may result in a number of illnesses. These include:  Gastroenteritis, characterised by cramping stomach pains, diarrhoea and vomiting  Weil's disease, a flu-like illness with persistent and severe headache, transmitted by rat urine. Damage to liver, kidneys and blood may occur and the condition can be fatal  Hepatitis, characterised by inflammation of the liver, and jaundice  Occupational asthma, resulting in attacks of breathlessness, chest tightness and wheezing, and produced by the inhalation of living or dead organisms  Infection of skin or eyes  Rarely, allergic alveolitis (inflammation of the lung) with fever, breathlessness, dry cough, and aching muscles and joints The above conditions may be contracted by workers or members of the public who come into contact with live sewage through the following ways:  The most common way is by hand-to-mouth contact during eating, drinking and smoking, or by wiping the face with contaminated hands or gloves, or by licking splashes from the skin.  By skin contact, through cuts, scratches, or penetrating wounds, ie from discarded hypodermic needles. Certain organisms can enter the body through the surfaces of the eyes, nose and mouth.  By breathing them in, as either dust, aerosol or mist.

Workers can be protected from the risks to health. However, since micro-organisms are an inherent part of sewage, the hazard cannot be eliminated. A proper assessment of risk is required, but this should not include analysis of sewage for micro-organisms as they can constantly change. Exposure to sewage should be eliminated or minimised by, for example, using remote- controlled robotic cameras for sewer inspection; drying sludge before disposal; incineration of sludge; injection of sewage into land rather than spreading; damming and bypass pumping of sewer sections prior to reconstruction. The following measures can further reduce risk of infection and illness:

 Ensure that employees and line management understand the risks through proper instruction, training and supervision.  Provide suitable personal protective equipment, that may include waterproof/abrasion-resistant gloves, footwear, eye and respiratory protection. Face visors are particularly effective against splashes.

Equipment selection and a proper system for inspection and maintenance are important.

 Provide adequate welfare facilities, including clean water, soap, nailbrushes, disposable paper towels, and where heavy contamination is foreseeable, showers. For remote locations portable welfare facilities should be provided. Areas for storage of clean and contaminated equipment should be segregated and separate from eating facilities.  Provide adequate first-aid equipment, including clean water or sterile wipes for cleansing wounds, and a supply of sterile, waterproof, adhesive dressings. 53 | P a g e  LWSC pocket card Working with sewage – a pocket card to remind employees of all precautions they need to take to reduce the risk of infection, and will also be helpful to doctors in case of illness.  Make effective arrangements for monitoring the health of staff.

General advice and information should be available from LWSC offices. Advice on medical or health matters can be available from EPA and LWSC. Many things can cause blockages of drains, and often when a sewer or drain is cleared, there is no sign of what caused the problem. Some common causes of blocked drains include the build up of soap and grease deposits, tree roots, and disposable nappies, as well as 'foreign objects'. In some areas, such as places where houses were built many years ago, sewer pipes were made of a material called 'pitch fibre', which has over time, squashed due to the weight of soil on it.

Fiama STW was developed and operated when there were no settlers in that part of Monrovia City. Today it is inhabited. Prevailing winds can carry unhealthy vapours or smells from the sewage lagoon if it is managed improperly. With adequate surface area per cubic meter of sewage, and ensuring vegetation growth through the use of reed beds, or aquatic plants, the lagoon environment can be turned into, and maintained in, an aerobic state (if desired). LWSC will properly maintain the sewage lagoons to attract very important wild life namely birds, mammals, reptiles but also farming communities. This will help the following:

 Nature come back into equilibrium  Increase dissolved oxygen levels  Reduce pollution indicators levels namely Biological Oxygen Demand, ammonia levels, anoxia, oligochaete worms etc.  Reduce population of pests and harmful species  Improve sewage management  Contribute to economic development

Natural processes resulting to active mixing encouraged by plant roots, promoted by the sewage lagoons circulator, helps to create a more complete decomposition of organic matter, i.e. manure/sewage sludge, and in the process reduce both the odour and solids. This effective aquatic ecosystem and manure/sewage management tool is simple, efficient and economical in reducing the overall treatment and management costs.

LWSC plans to employ a more assertive approach to solving environmental problems arising from water supply and sanitation that will involve turning environmental challenges into opportunities to diversify the economic base of the micro-enterprise sector. The necessary transformation of Monrovia environments will be accelerated LWSC in collaboration with EPA through more environmentally-cantered small-scale enterprise activity.

In this regard, LWSC plans to involve the micro-enterprise sector to a more active role in facilitating the reformulation of economic activity to better coexist with the natural environment. Such a transformation would, of necessity, take place in accordance with the circumstances in which micro-enterprises operates. Finding solutions to domestic and industrial wastewater is of grave importance to developing sanitation projects. These were overlooked in the past in Monrovia.

LWSC plans to use the Calcutta example in managing the Fiama sewage lagoon. Over the past century, Calcutta has developed a system of sewage disposal that is among the most efficient and ecologically benign in existence. Approximately one-third of the city sewage is 54 | P a g e transformed by East Calcutta Marshes into a daily harvest of 20 ton of fish and 150 ton of vegetables. This natural sewage treatment system, which purifies sewage and industrial wastewater, supports 40 species of fish. The self-help system has been copied outside of Calcutta and more than 20,000 on-expert people have been involved in the creation of the system. The success of these natural sewage disposal systems has brought the support of government officials in the form of assistance to sewage treatment cooperatives. The 430 members of one of these groups, the Mudialy Co-operative, harvest more than a ton of fish a day from ponds in the heart of Calcutta's dockland.

Waste will be treated and purified by the natural processes found in small lagoons. There is growing interest and proof in the soundness of sewage lagoon systems that treat the waste with duckweed (Lemma spp.) cover. Species of duckweed are found locally in Monrovia and grows on nutrient-rich water such as sewage wastewater. Duckweed is a quick growing plant. In addition to treating waste, duckweed is considered to be an excellent food source for fish, poultry and cattle.

The project will adapt the Duckweed project in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Duckweed project provides more insight into the potential of duckweed and, in particular, the work of PRISM, a Bangladeshi NGO which, since 1989, has been operating a duckweed lagoon that treats domestic sewage. A group of tiny aquatic plants commonly known as duckweeds (Lemma spp.) are a promising commercial aquaculture crop that can be adapted in the Monrovia project. Species of duckweed are hardy and fast growing and have the same protein quality of soybean. They appear to be a complete nutritional package for such fish as carp and tilapia. These species are local to Monrovia. In addition, duckweed-based wastewater treatment systems can provide effective and inexpensive solutions to wastewater problems for Monrovia with limited resources.

Duckweed wastewater treatment systems, which are essentially lagoon systems, remove, by bio-accumulation, as much as 99 per cent of the nutrients and dissolved solids contained in wastewater. Duckweed systems distinguish themselves from other efficient wastewater treatment mechanisms in that they also produce a valuable, protein-rich biomass as a by- product while reducing the continual influx of harmful substances (nitrogen, phosphorous) into receiving bodies of water (rivers, lakes or seas).

With possible collaboration with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) or UNEP, the displaced people of Fiama can undertake a project to establish a viable and replicable integrated system of small-scale intensive fish-farming and duckweed production. The output from duckweed ponds is to serve the feeding needs of the fish ponds. The project will target targeted landless or marginal farmers in order to provide them with a new source of income. Amongst these could be farmers that are currently illegally doing farming activities in the lagoon.

Although not an original objective of the Monrovia Water Supply and Sanitation Rehabilitation Programme, the construction of improved flash type latrines, connected to the duckweed ponds to treat human waste, can prove a very popular pilot project with local families. Households will highly be appreciative of non-tangible benefits of this technology, i.e., no smell, and reduced flies and mosquito populations due to the complete coverage of water surfaces by duckweed. Naturally-occurring duckweed, available free from non-project ponds, is now recognized as a resource by LWSC.

4.33 Enhancement of sewage sludge from settlement tanks

55 | P a g e Sewage sludge, also known as biosolids, is what is left behind after water is cleaned in waste treatment works. It is high in organic content and plant nutrients and, in theory, makes good fertilizer. However, most developed countries regulate its use because it also can contain a multitude of metals, organic pollutants, and pathogens. They also pragmatically note that the millions of tons of sewage sludge generated each year must go somewhere. As Monrovia thrives to improve its water and sanitation quality significant amount of sewerage will be produced. There will be opponents of sludge use. However, although opponents of sludge use have many grievances, one of their main concerns is the long-term build-up of heavy metals in the soil. Over time, they argue, metals such as cadmium, zinc, and copper could build up to levels high enough to damage agricultural soils. Some opponents advocate a full-scale ban on the use of sludge as fertilizer. But for others, who acknowledge its benefits, the question is: At what levels do heavy metals cause harmful effects? These concerns and questions will be addressed through the institutionally through the following: regulatory framework by EPA; risk assessment by EPA; comparisons amongst different countries (by LWSC and EPA); push to improve sludge quality; and pollution being allowed to reach maximum acceptable levels before control measures are applied.

4.34 Sludge Quality

What will come out in Fiama sewage inception tanks is what will be put in by 300,000 Monrovians in their homes. Papers, nappies and other items of plant materials take long to decay. Plastics such as condoms wont decay for many years. Public sensitisation is very important in order to influence materials dumped in toilets and sewers is recommended. EPA should also consider influencing the quality of soaps and detergents imported into Monrovia. Concentrations of Cd, Cu and Zn in 175 detergent samples representing twenty-one brands of washing powders were analysed in the USA. Mean concentrations of 3.03 (± 0.50) g Cd/g, 2.61 (± 1.22) g Cu/g and 15.23 (± 7.26) g Zn/g were recorded. The daily contribution of metals from laundry washing is in the order of 54.5 g Cd/ca/d, 47.0 g Cu/ca/d and 274.1 g Zn/ca/d. In Irish municipal wastewater the contribution from detergents of these metals are 31.9% for Cd, 0.24% Cu and 0.30% for Zn. This has important implications for sewage sludge disposal.

4.35 Sludge recycling or disposal routes

Once treated, sludge can be recycled or disposed of using three main routes: recycling to agriculture landspreading, incineration or landfilling. In European Union countries up to 80% of sewage sludge is used in agriculture and forestry.

4.36 Landspreading

About 60% of New York City's sewage sludge is pelletized at the New York Organic Fertilizer Company (NYOFCO) facility in the Bronx, which is an environmental justice issue affecting a low-income community. Much of this pelletized sludge is shipped down to be dumped as fertilizer on the citrus groves in Florida. About 80% of the EU’s sludge is used in agriculture.

56 | P a g e Landspreading of sludge or sludge-derived material partially replaces the use of conventional fertilisers, since it contains compounds of agricultural value. It also contains organic matter, although under a form and at a level below that which would have a significant positive impact on soil physical properties. Composted sludge however presents a more stable organic matter due to the addition of a vegetal co-product during the process. However, landspreading also involves the application of the pollutants contained in sludge to the soil. These pollutants undergo different transformations or transfer processes. These processes include leaching to groundwater, runoff, microbial transformation, plant uptake and volatilisation and enable transfer of the compounds into the air and water, and their subsequent introduction into the food chain. Therefore outputs of sludge recycling consist of yield improvement, but also of emissions of pollution into the soil, and indirect emissions into air and water. Other emissions into the air include exhaust gases from transportation and application vehicles.

Although no incidence of disease outbreak from land application of treated sewage sludge has been reported in countries which use it, bacteria, viruses, and parasites associated with municipal sewage sludges present a potential problem. The concern lies in the transfer of pathogens to humans or grazing animals that ingest plants with sludge-contaminated surfaces. However, one must be chary of the type of microbiological thinking that equates the mere presence of microbes with illness or the potential for illness. Existing data indicate that pathogenic organisms (bacteria, viruses, or parasites) occur in sludges and, for varying time periods, in sludge amended soils. Transfer of bacteria or viruses to mammals in controlled land application systems and composted sludge is unlikely, because these organisms are unable to survive outside the host for lengthy periods. Certain nematodes and cestodes have the greatest potential for long-term survival outside the host in a resistant egg or cyst stage. Although these pathogenic organisms may be present in sewage sludge, their presence does not assure pathogen transfer to a mammal. Hygiene sensitization, a component of the programme, provides one of the solutions in the prevention of oral ingestion of cysts from treated sludge.

4.37 Incineration

Incineration is a combustion reaction. Different techniques are currently performed, classified between mono-incineration when sludge is incinerated in dedicated incineration plants, incineration with other wastes, or co-incineration when sludge is used as fuel in energy or material production. Other technologies are also being developed such as wet oxidation or pyrolysis but they are expensive and cannot be considered now for the programme

4.38 Landfilling There are two possibilities in terms of sludge landfilling: mono-deposits, where only sludge is disposed of, and mixed-deposits (most commonly observed), when the landfill is also used for municipal wastes. The inputs of landfilling are the waste and additional resources required for the operation of the landfill site, such as fuel for vehicles, electricity, and additional materials when leachate is treated on-site. Outputs consist of leachate, landfill gas and energy production when the gas is recovered. Landfill operation therefore generates emissions into the air (mainly greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide, reduced when biogases are collected and burnt), and into the soil and water at dumpsites (various compounds such as ions, heavy metals, organic compounds and micro-organisms in leachate). The operation of a landfill also generates other impacts in terms of noise and dust from the delivery vehicles, as well as odours, land use, disturbance of vegetation and the landscape.

4.39 Heavy Metals

57 | P a g e The presence of numerous metals in soil and sludge has been reported in various literature. Once applied to the soil they are distributed between the different soil media. Scientific evidence shows that they accumulate in the upper layers of the soil, due to binding to the different existing organic or mineral particles. Their mobility and biovailability to plants and micro-organisms may be influenced by several factors of which the pH level of the soil is the most important. Heavy metals are naturally present in soil at varying levels, and may originate from several anthropogenic sources such as fertilisers, animal manure, sludge, or atmospheric deposition.

Micro-organisms species present in the soil are numerous. Some of them are important for soil fertility and therefore for agricultural production. Concern has been expressed about the consequences of metal provision to the soil on the micro-organisms population and biodiversity.

On the basis of long-term field trials, some studies concluded that soil micro-organisms diversity and population could be negatively affected by sludge-borne metals in the long- term, and by metal levels in soil which were in some cases below prescriptions.

Leaching to groundwater appears to be a negligible phenomenon. On the contrary, runoff, when it occurs, may play a significant role in metal transfer. Its importance depends greatly on the local situation, and the fate of metals needs to be further documented.

Plant uptake occurs for all heavy metals and is described by transfer factors. Some metals (e.g. copper and zinc) are of biological importance for the plant. It has been observed that heavy metals are concentrated in the roots and vegetative parts of plants and are less present in the generative parts such as wheat grain. Uptake will increase with increasing metal levels in soil, but only applies to the bioavailable part of the metals present in soil.

Uptake of metals by animals occurs through contaminated plant consumption or soil ingestion. However, little information is available concerning metal quantities ingested and absorbed and their subsequent toxicity levels to animals. Metals do not seem to accumulate in meat. More focus is needed concerning possible Pb and Cd transfer to offal, as in some cases this could lead to levels nearing acceptable limits in foodstuffs. Transfer of Pb and Cd across the placenta and into the milk was observed during indoor feeding trials, but there are likely to be few practical consequences for finished animals. Concentration of Cu in the milk was not influenced by the ingestion of sludge-amended soil. A quantitative assessment of this contamination pathway is not available at the present time. In a general manner, human exposure to heavy metals may be attributed to several sources and depends on many factors such as diet, actual absorption, and food processing. Consumption of contaminated crops appears to be the main means of exposure to sludge-borne metals. It is assumed that the specific contribution of sludge-borne metals to the human diet is very low, when taking into account the observed level of metals present in soil, and considering the surface area over which sludge spreading takes place.

Agricultural recycling of sewage sludge makes both economic and environmental sense, provided the migration and accumulation of substances and elements contained in sludge into the environment and the food chain, and the associated risks are reduced and addressed by adequate regulatory measures and good practices. The development of agricultural recycling depends largely on the possibilities to improve the quality of the sludge itself and increase confidence in sludge quality. This implies the prevention of pollution of the waste water at source by reducing the possibilities for heavy metals and organic compounds to enter the

58 | P a g e waste water sewage system and improving sludge treatment as well as ensuring the monitoring of sludge quality. These technical solutions will require major investment both from the water LWSC and EPA in charge of treating the waste water, although these costs will remain low when compared to the overall costs of managing water and urban wastewater

The current uncertainties over possible risks for human health and for the environment plays a major part in the resistance against expanding various sludge recycling routes: many uncertainties remain concerning the transfer of pollutants (especially organic pollutants) to the environmental media and the food chain, and the possible effects of organic pollutants and pathogens in sludge. These issues would need to be more accurately documented. Progress in the social and political acceptance of sludge recycling could therefore be made by promoting research on these specific aspects, publishing the research results and making them widely available. EPA and LWSC should award scholarships to University students to encourage research in Monrovia sludge metal content and its potential as a major fertilizer for Monrovia vegetable farmers. In particular, there should be better dissemination of the results of current national research programmes on the effects of the agricultural recycling of sludge on health. In parallel, information is required on sludge composition, sludge production, treatments and routes, pollution prevention policy measures and cost, external costs (such as human health, ecosystem degradation etc.) to reduce uncertainties and improve the reliability of cost estimates.

Although no incidence of disease outbreak from land application of treated sewage sludge has been reported in countries which use sludge in South East Asia and Europe, bacteria, viruses, and parasites associated with municipal sewage sludges present a potential problem. The concern lies in the transfer of pathogens to humans or grazing animals that ingest plants with sludge-contaminated surfaces. However, this mission advises that one must be chary of the type of microbiological thinking that equates the mere presence of microbes with illness or the potential for illness. Existing data indicate that pathogenic organisms (bacteria, viruses, or parasites) occur in sludges and, for varying time periods, in sludge amended soils. Transfer of bacteria or viruses to mammals in controlled land application systems is unlikely, because these organisms are unable to survive outside the host for lengthy periods. Certain nematodes and cestodes have the greatest potential for long-term survival outside the host in a resistant egg or cyst stage. Although these pathogenic organisms may be present in sewage sludge, their presence does not assure pathogen transfer to a mammal. Hygiene sensitization, a component of the programme, provides one of the solutions in the prevention of pathogen transfer from sewage sludge to humans.

Moreover, as proven by the UK and countries in SE Asia, the fact is that illness from sewage products is an unusually complex phenomenon that does not have a 1:1 relationship to microbes. Sludge-borne bacteria and viruses from land application systems are not a serious threat to health because these pathogens are poor competitors outside the host. The survival of these organisms in the soil depends on a number of environmental factors. Temperature, sunlight, moisture, the availability of organic matter, soil pH, soil particles, and the presence of toxic substances and competitive organisms influence bacteria and virus survival in soils and sewage sludges. Most viruses survive only 11 days when applied by the same method during the summer. High surface soil temperatures cause the death of the virus. Sunlight is strongly bactericidal. Bacteria and viruses are very susceptible to desiccation; therefore, soil moisture is important to the survival of these organisms. After land-applied sewage sludge dried in the field for three months, no enteroviruses will survive.

It is essential that sludge material is used in a sustainable and beneficial way. Learning from the experience of other countries will enable LWSC to manage its sewage sludge in a

59 | P a g e sustainable and environmentally sound way. The table below summarizes Thames Water (UK) management of sewage sludge, outlining the benefits. In 2006 Thames Water produced 263, 941 tonnes of dry solids of sewage sludge and 61% of it was used in farming).

Outlet (% of total Benefits sewage sludge) Agriculture (60%) Recycling valuable nutrients to the soil. Improves soil properties. Reduces need for chemical fertilisers. Incineration - with energy Incineration with energy recovery chosen at two sites in East recovery (31%) London. Providing 34.7 GWh of renewable energy to the London area. Industrial Crops (8%) Recycling valuable nutrients to the soil. Improves soil properties. Reduces need for chemical fertilisers and produces a renewable source of industrial products. Land Restoration (<1%) Restores derelict land for development, amenity, forestry and wildlife. Reduces burden on green field areas and improves environment. Composting (1%) Offers an alternative to peat products. This helps protect rare habitats and endangered species. These products are endorsed by the RSPB.

4.40 Recommendations

LWSC will use the most economical disposal method: composting followed by land application. Various methods available to remove heavy metals from sewage sludge including chlorination, use of chelating agents are expensive in practical application but composting presents as an alternative method of microbial leaching with addition of elemental sulphur to promote the growth of sulphur respiring bacteria known to be very efficient in metal leaching. This method shows several advantages over chemical methods in terms of its simplicity, high yield of metal extraction, lower acid and alkali consumption, and minimum reduction in sludge nutrients such as N and P. In addition, microbial leaching has been shown to be 80% less expensive than acid leaching. The second option is landfilling using alternative locations of the adjacent Fiama land fill site. The sludge will be biologically stable after 32 days and will be suitable for dressing tree crops. The organic and inorganic leachates will drain into the lagoon where they will be utilized by duckweed. It is recommended that where leaf vegetables are to be fertilized by sludge compost, the compost should be applied at least 4 weeks before harvesting. Where root vegetables are to be fertilized by sludge compost, it is recommended that the compost should be applied at least 6 weeks before harvesting.

5.0 Environmental and Social Monitoring of the program and complementary initiatives

Monitoring component of the Programme is the routine tracking of priority information about LWSSRP and its intended outcomes. It includes the routine tracking of the inputs and outputs of the key elements of LWSSRP performance through record keeping, regular reporting 60 | P a g e systems as well as programme observations and periodic surveys. It will assist LWSSRP management to determine which areas require greater effort and will identify areas that contribute to improved water supply and sanitation performance.

Monitoring of water supply and sanitation issues is carried out at two levels:

1. At the level of the community where the most simple monitoring indicators/factors/checklists are used to evaluate the status of their water sources and sanitation facilities. By making the communities responsible, the awareness and responsibility for environmental protection and carrying out mitigation measurements is enhanced and costs are minimized (there are no capital investments required at this level).

2. At the institutional executive agency levels parameter indicators such physical, chemical and biological parameters are used, which require more sophisticated instrumentation, financial investment and higher qualified personnel. Monitoring is part of the routine tasks of the District Environmental Officer in collaboration with LWSC personnel. Accurate record keeping is necessary to track and adequately measure the progress and effectiveness of the water supply and sanitation components at all levels and evaluate outcome and impact of interventions implemented by this project.

LWSC facilities should establish and maintain proper records for every activity it implements. Data generated should be summarized and feedback given to those collecting the data and also used locally.

Evaluation is the periodic assessment of the change in targeted results that can be attributed to the LWSC water and sanitation improvements programme. It will determine whether LWSSRP programme has had the desired effect of outcomes. Evaluation will also involve looking for evidence of LWSSRP impact. Evaluation will answer specific questions to inform programme managers and donors about the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability of the LWSSRP.

The goal of LWSSRP monitoring and evaluation system is to provide reliable information on progress in implementing the mitigation measures outlined by the ESMP. The specific objectives are:  To collect, process, analyse, and report on water, sanitation and capacity building activities of the programme.  To verify whether activities have been implemented as planned to ensure accountability and address problems that have emerged in a timely manner  To provide feedback to relevant authorities to improve future planning.  To document periodically whether planned strategies have achieved expected outcomes and impacts.  To provide the donors and other stakeholders with regular feedback on programme or service performance  To track actual performance against planned objectives or expected outcomes  To provide information to improve programmes and services  Serves as an early indication of progress or setback in the achievement of intended results by LWSSIRP

61 | P a g e Three groups of indicators are proposed: this focus on a limited number of indicators that can be used at minimal cost to track implementation progress of mitigation measures and alert programme managers of obstacles.

Process indicators: Measure whether or not interventions known to be effective in reducing the negative impacts are being implemented.

% of LWSC staff trained to carry out the Programme mitigation activities

Number of technical LWSC staff trained to carry out planned activities X 100 Total number of technical LWSC staff

Outcome Indicators: These indicators reflect the change in knowledge and practices and show use of water, sanitation and hygiene in the public toilets. These indicators also reflect the change in knowledge and practices of LWSC sanitation workers.

% of sanitary workers who take specific hygiene practices

Number of sanitation workers who take specific hygiene practices X 100 Number of sanitary workers Or Number of people who wash their after using public toilet X 100 Total Number of public toilet users

Impact Indicators: These show impact of preventive programmes in reducing the burden of diarrhoeal diseases associated with inadequate provision water and sanitation.

Prevalence of water borne diseases: this is the percentage of illnesses related to water and sanitation against the total number of all illnesses reported

Number waterborne related cases reported x100 Total number of cases reported

Surveillance: ongoing process of measuring Physico-chemical and biological parameters of the raw and treated/finished water at White Plains

5.1 Environmental Monitoring Table 4 summarizes the environmental monitoring programs to be conducted by the environmental monitoring stations of the city environmental protection bureaus. Monitoring frequency should not be less than the number specified in the table. LWSC will be responsible for supervising implementation of these programs.

EPA is responsible for the external environmental monitoring in both the construction and operational phases. LWSC is responsible for internal environmental monitoring in the operational phase. The environmental monitoring results in both construction and operational phases will be submitted to WB, DFID, AfDB, and other responsible agencies. These agencies/institutions may also request an increase in frequency of monitoring and that appropriate actions be taken for environmental mitigation as they deem necessary.

62 | P a g e 5.2 Environmental Management and Institutional Requirements EPA will assist in coordinating and facilitating (i) project actions required to ensure compliance with relevant environmental laws and regulations, and to track the issuance of all necessary clearances and permits related to environment, safety, and occupational health; and (ii) liaison with LWSC in monitoring environmental parameters related to the project (air quality, public safety, sewage safety, dust, noise etc)

During project preparation and implementation, various institutions with different environmental management responsibilities have been and will be involved, including: EPA,, MLME, LWSC, MHSW and MCC. Section 6.1 shows the environmental responsibilities of each agency in the successive phases of the project.

The contractors will be responsible for incorporating appropriate mitigation measures in engineering design and during construction. An environment monitoring team will be established within LWSC and EPA to ensure that all applicable national, provincial, and local environmental laws, regulations, guidelines, and standards are met during project implementation and operation. The environment monitoring team will monitor and record: (i) implementation of the project environmental management activities, and (ii) implementation of the resettlement action plan with the assistance of the appointed monitoring specialist. LWSC and EPA will conduct compliance monitoring. EPA will conduct more stringent environmental monitoring and enforcement in the project’s urban areas. If complaints are received from the public, monitoring staff will inspect the problem immediately. LWSC will have qualified scientists and engineers, monitoring equipment, and technical capability for monitoring the aquatic environment, air environment, physical environment (noise and vibration), soil, ecology, solid waste, and traffic conditions. The water quality laboratory in White Plains has obtained certificates issued by the EPA, and the certificates are to be renewed periodically (usually every 5 years). These certificates assure accuracy of the analytical results and their legal standing.

To conduct monitoring, the environmental division of EPA will assign the necessary staff and acquire monitoring instruments. As needed, management and monitoring staff of LWSC, EPA, and MHSW will receive domestic and overseas training in environmental monitoring, interpretation of monitoring results, mitigation planning, emergency response, environmental policy making, and other environmental management techniques. Budgets for staffing, training, and instrument acquisition are included in the total project budget.

During the first 3 months of rehabilitation works, reports will be prepared every 2 weeks. Subsequently, monthly reports will be prepared and submitted by LWSC to AfDB/DFID. In addition, the environmental monitoring results will be compiled and incorporated into the annual reports, and into an evaluation report after rehabilitation work is completed. The reports will cover compliance with environmental standards, unanticipated issues encountered, and status of environmental mitigation measures.

The proposed project will create MWSSRP committee, which will coordinate and facilitate environmental monitoring and mitigation in project implementation. The committee will boost environmental awareness in the project area, develop cooperation between regional stakeholders by sharing data, and provide a forum for discussing environmental issues not related to the project. The committee will gradually expand the area of its expertise to the whole of the Monrovia City, turning into the coordination and decision making mechanism on the full scope of issues related to water resource management and environmental conservation. The committee will serve as an example for the other urban water supply and sanitation programmes in Liberia–contributing to developing the sustained effort of cleaning 63 | P a g e pollution and promoting environmentally sustained water resource and environmental management of water sources.

Table 3: Objectives and Service Delivery Areas - Water and Sanitation Rehabilitation Phase

Objective To minimize the negative impacts associated with the programme location and 1: planning

Service delivery area 1: Programme location

Responsible Time Frame organisation Coverage 80% prevention of brackish and marine Routine surveillance Monthly Indicator 1: waters intrusion. data from White Plains Water treatment Plant Laboratory. Coverage Increase in the % of coverage of water Indicator 2: supply and sanitation in areas Ministry of Land, August 2009 displaying infrastructural problems Mines and Energy; mainly due to lack of proper EPA, MHSW demarcation of plots, boundaries and overcrowding on one hand and scattered settlements in the peri-urban areas on the other hand to 70%. Staff training on built environments

Coverage Complete resettlement of the project’s EPA, MLME August 2009 indicator 3 vulnerable persons  Resettlement of house owners occupying the Fiama lagoon  Compensation for farmers using the lagoon  Construction of retaining 64 | P a g e wall /barrier

Service delivery area 2: Programme planning Time Frame Responsible organisation Coverage All informal settlers (100%) who have Ministry of Land, MinesBy February 2008 Indicator 1: encroached into the sewage lagoon/projectand Energy; LWSC, area in Fiama relocated MHSW

Coverage 80% of the following policies and Indicator 2: guidelines developed: September 2008 LWSC, EPA, MLME  IWRM policy;  legal framework,  institutional framework  management instruments (monitoring and surveillance)  water conservation strategies (demand-side management policies); advice to industries on water saving technologies  monetary policy including billing; metering; pricing; collection  customer service development policy;  information dissemination;  communication policy  staff training (especially Coverage management and professional MLME, LWSC, August 2008 indicator 3 staff) Ministry of Planning and Development, Ministry Integrated and Collaborative Emergency of Finance, EPA preparedness (40% of activities completed):  construction of reservoirs in strategic areas (on high elevations) around the city;  strengthening the dam at White Plains;  Erection of flood warning systems  preparation for stochastic water source events namely pollution, flooding (saltwater intrusion – sea level rise), drought (sudden environmental changes) Coverage  Collaboration with water sector indicator 4 partners (Government, NGOs – local and international, aid LWSC 65 | P a g e Coverage agencies – bilateral and indicator 5 multilateral) LWSC Reduction in Morbidity for different diseases Cholera, typhoid, diarrhoeal diseases 50- 60%

Reduce poverty and the gap in equality for water and sanitation provision between low income and high income earners:  Increase volume of water available 25 gallons per person per day  Reduce coliform count of water supplied to below 4/100ml  Reduce time to fetch water to from current 3 hours peak time to 30mins peak time per day  Increase number of hours of water availability in taps to at least 18 hours per day at the end of 2008 and then increase to 24 hours per day by 2009  Reduce the ratio between the cost of water from vendors and the cost of water from piped supplies to the home from current 15:1 to 3:1  Increase sewer connections from present 7% to 20% MHSW, Monrovia City  Reduce risk of sewage Council, Ministry of contaminating water supplies from Finance current 80% to 0%  Reduce time taken to access toilets from 1 hour to 5-10 minutes  Reduce distance to access toilets to maximum 150 meters  Reduce new sewer connection charges for new customers by 40%  Improve solid waste collection by 60%

Objective To minimise the negative impacts associated with water and sanitation rehabilitation 2: works

Service Delivery Area 1: Water supply rehabilitation Time Frame Responsible organisation Coverage Health and safety activities associated with Indicator repairs of treatment plant – action taken to Contractors/Engineers Weekly during

66 | P a g e 1: protect workers from accidents MCC, EPA, MPW rehabilitation  chain hoisting; works  Action taken to reduce and protect workers from noise of tools and machinery; fire  safe removal, storage and disposal of faulty metals and other components;  provision of protective clothing for workers (gloves, hardhats, steel-toe boots);  provision of instruction manuals as well as health and safety guidelines for tools to all persons involved in the fitting of machinery;  restriction of entrance to plant by visitors and non-essential staff  training of staff working in the treatment plant Contractors; Department of Works, MCC, EPA, MLME, Weekly during Pipeline rehabilitation works using civilised MPW rehabilitation construction methods namely: Coverage works  deployment of activities to reduce indicator dust pollution such as 2: soaking/spraying of earth heaps to minimise dust emission, covering construction vehicles  reduction of traffic congestion and diversion;  reduction of speed of construction vehicles to minimise dust  accident prevention measures such as the erecting of signs, barriers, reflectors, traffic controller; working at night to protect pedestrians  construction vehicles maintained in good running order to reduce air pollution  proper refilling of trenches using appropriate materials and methods;  removal and safe storage/disposal of old pipes;  safe storage of construction materials;  replanting of trees where they are removed;  disposal of waste lubrication oils from machinery by recycling;

Service delivery area 2: Rehabilitation of Sanitation system

67 | P a g e Responsible organisation Time Frame Coverag Sewerage rehabilitation works involving e Contractors, LWSC, Weekly during Indicator digging of trenches and handling of pipes MLME, MPW rehabilitation works 1: with live sewage:

 activities to reduce dust pollution;  traffic congestion and diversion; accident prevention measures such as signs, barriers, reflectors, traffic controller, proper refilling of trenches using appropriate materials and methods;  removal and storage of old pipes; safe storage of construction materials;  replanting of trees where they are Contractors, LWSC removed; MCC, EPA, MLME, MPW  disposal of waste lubrication oils from machinery;  good hygiene practices namely jetting of live sewage pipes, provision of soaps and alcohol wipes, disinfects, health leaflets for workers,  hygiene education, public health warning against coming into Weekly during Coverag contact with live sewage Contractors, LWSC rehabilitation works e MHSW Indicator Rehabilitation of the sewage booster lift 2: pumps: health and safety of workers to include safety from coming to contact with raw sewage are addressed; all staff working with live sewage are provided with protective clothing and sanitation facilities; all parts removed from the faulty sewage pumps are cleaned, stored, and MOH, EPA Coverag disposed of appropriately. e indicator During the rehabilitation of the sewage 3: lagoon: necessary precautions to protect staff during desludging and brushing of weeds; protect staff from coming into contact with the solid waste materials in the adjacent solid waste dumping site. Protection of staff from coming into contact with live sewage from old live sewage pipelines directly connected to the lagoon; Action plan: provision of

68 | P a g e protective clothing, sanitation facilities and first aid equipment and materials; use of IEC materials and information on problems associated with the handling of live sewage

Table 4: Objectives and Service Delivery Areas - Project Operational Phase

Objective To minimize the negative impacts associated water supply and sanitation 3: operation

Service delivery area 1: Water treatment and distribution Time Frame Responsible organisati on Coverage Approximately 150 gallons/month of LWSC., EPA Monthly Indicator 1: used lubrication oil is disposed by recycling; floc from sedimentation tanks disposed of in a floc pond or recycled in the building industry, instead of direct discharge into the river; protective clothing and noise devices for staff working in the plant and noisy area of the treatment plant; fire safety risk training, LWSC/EPA, assessment, management procedures MHSW implemented; sanitation and hygiene training carried out; Control of substances Hazardous to Health Coverage (COSHH) training – to involve all Daily Indicator 2: chemical used in the treatment plant

1. Bio-physicochemical parameters measured for raw and finished water; continuous surveillance of daily raw and finished water quality using AQMS; 2. Monitor physicochemical quality at consumer points using laboratory tests 3. Training of laboratory staff - on the different methods used to measure water quality parameters 69 | P a g e and their limitations as well as cost implications (use of water quality kits for quick tests, titration methods and use of AQUMS.

Coverage 60% of water leakages from distribution Monthly when Indicator 3: pipes (surface flooding) detected and LWSC, EPA water supply amended within 12 hours of occurrence; system is 50% training on diagnostic methods for rehabilitated detecting leakages carried out; works to amend leakages from main pipes (primary lines) are started immediately Coverage they are reported Indicator 4: Wasteful consumption reduced by 50% LWSC through DSM: efficient metering; staff training; use of Increasing Block Tariffs Monthly when (IBT), reduce leakages, Lifeline Tariffs water supply (LT), pay as you go public taps and pay system is 50% as you go home tariffs; public rehabilitated participation through information giving, consultation and collaboration; training of staff carried out

Service Delivery Area 2: operation of the sanitation system Time Frame Responsible organisati on Coverage The pumps are enclosed in concrete Indicator 1: housing; noise from the pumps and LWSC Monthly when generators are contained within the pump pumps start housing; ear protectors are provided for operating operators; protective gears for staff; hygiene facilities present; health and safety guidelines/leaflets present in pump site; fire safety procedures implemented; training of staff is carried our Coverage LWSC, MHSW, indicator 2: The sewage lagoon is maintained in an EPA environmentally and socially sustainable Monthly when way through: lagoon  Protective fencing around the operation boundaries of the lagoon present; starts  Training of staff working in lagoon  90% duckweed cover present;  healthy tilapia population;  population of flies maintained to

70 | P a g e minimal level;  presence of very little or no odour;  protective clothing for staff;  hygiene guidelines present;  evidence of training and refresher courses on hygiene and sanitation;  IEC materials and operational guidelines for sewage;  quarterly medical screening for staff working in the lagoon carried out;

Coverage The public toilets are always maintained LWSC, MHSW Monthly when Indicator 3 in a healthy manner through: project starts  Presence of toilet care taker operation  Training of care takers – sanitation and hygiene, customers services, COSHH etc  Provision of 24 hr hand washing facilities  Absence of water pools on the floor  Absence of flies  Floors and toilets are disinfected  Toilet sits are cleaned continuously  Adequate lighting in and outside toilet  Toilet male and female toilets demarcated with signs  Where toilets are constructed in Coverage public places i.e. markets, LWSC; MHSW indicator 3 hospitals etc directions to toilets (Health Education Monthly when are provided Division) project starts operation Hygiene promotion in progress through:  public sensitisation – through airing of radio jingles  posters are used  print media is used  drama  radio and TV discussions  health talks (in schools, market places, lorry parks)  consultation and partnerships influential community leaders  staff training

71 | P a g e Coverage Sludge is collected and disposed of in a EPA, LWSC Monthly indicator 4 safe manner:  landfilling  composting  composting and incineration  biologically stabilised before disposal  staff with sludge have protective clothing  staff have hygiene facilities  evidence of hygiene training  Monitoring carried out by EPA

5.4 Legal Requirement of the Government

For infrastructure projects, in particular those having potential impacts on the environment, extensive public participation are required by the government. Public participation allows the local residents to fully understand objectives and implementation of the proposed project, the potential adverse and beneficial impacts and associated mitigation measures, and the anticipated results. One of the purposes of public participation is to understand the habits, preferences, and needs of the affected persons. A summary of this report will be publicly disclosed for a period of one calendar month.

5.5 Public Participation during Project Preparation Direct public involvement has been an ongoing element in the preparation of the project. These investigations were carried out by the agencies preparing the environmental impact assessments, feasibility studies, and the results were incorporated into the planning process to screen design options to minimize social and environmental impacts. Public investigation and results have played an important role in the ESMP, location, scale, and rehabilitation works methods. AfDB, WB, DFID and LWSC held consultative committee meetings, workshops for discussion and consultation on the project. Project priorities, impacts, and mitigation measures were discussed in the workshops. The project has been publicized through the mass media, including local newspapers, ratio stations, and TV channels.

Affected households, including 23 in the project area, accounting for 568 people, have been investigated during the preparation of the ESMP. A representative sample was selected, including urban residents of the project cities of various age, education, occupation, and genders. Representative households were randomly selected for the survey. The 36 questionnaires were completed. Of the returned questionnaires, 100% expressed support for the project, and 0% was against it.

5.6 Future Public Participation Plans

72 | P a g e Plans for public involvement during the design, rehabilitation, and operational stages have been developed. These plans include public participation in (i) monitoring impacts and mitigation measures in the construction and operational stages; (ii) evaluation of environmental, economic, and social impacts; and (iii) testing of public opinion after project completion. The plans include several types of public involvement: site visits, workshops, investigation of specific issues, and interviews. These plans have been incorporated in the social and environmental monitoring plan

5.7 Estimated costs The program includes an estimated cost of streamlining environmental and social issues (mitigation measures, assessment and streamlining) about 3% of total program cost (USD 750,000). At the sub-project design level the cost of environmental and social streamlining will be accurately estimated and includes (1) the cost of environmental and social assessment (USD 25,000) (2) the cost of implementing the non contractual mitigation measures including construction of retaining wall at Fiama and resettlement of vulnerable groups (USD 700,000) and (4) the cost of monitoring and evaluation (USD 25,000).

6.0 Institutional arrangements and capacity building requirements

Several agencies are involved in water resources management in Liberia

6.1 Government Agencies Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MHSW): The Division of Environmental and Occupational Health of this ministry handles matters relating to water and sanitation, periodic assessment of the status of food hygiene in public eating places, construction and/or supervision of water wells and pit latrines and the promotion of community health education. MHSW provides for capacity building and training of environmental health technicians and is mandated to conduct sanitary inspections, including drinking water surveillance and water quality monitoring, towards the evaluation of compliance with Public Health Law and national standards.

Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (MLME): The MLME among other things, supervises the development and management of water resources that are central to the water and sanitation sector, and conducts scientific and technical investigations required for environmental assessments. The implementation of water and sanitation activities is done through the Department of Mineral and Environmental Research of the ministry, which houses both, the Liberian Geological Survey (LGS) and the Liberian Hydrological Service (LHS). The LHS is responsible for collecting data on the quality, sources, and quantity of water resources in Liberia and is responsible for monitoring rainfall and stream flow in river basin as well as ground and surface water quality. Training of technicians of the Ministry of Rural Development for emergency disinfection (chlorination) of open wells has also been undertaken by MLME. The LHS mandate dictates that it be involved in special projects on

73 | P a g e the evaluation of urban sanitation, particularly the provision of guidance for geotechnical investigation of solid wastes landfill disposal sites.

Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs (MPEA): The MPEA is responsible for regional development planning and co-ordination. It is also responsible for identification, development and preparation of suitable development programs and projects; both for the public and private sectors development. The MPEA provides technical guidance to all governmental agencies in preparation of development programs and projects.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The mandate of the EPA is to set environmental quality standards and ensure compliance for pollution control. The Agency is responsible for the provision of guidelines for the preparation of Environment Impact Assessment and Audits, and the evaluation of environmental permits. These may include certification procedures for landfill and other activities potentially damaging to the environment. The department is instrumental for the compliance of contractors to the ESMP recommendations.

Monrovia City Corporation (MCC): The MCC is responsible for the management of Monrovia including environmental sanitation primarily in the form of beautification, street cleaning, and solid waste collection and disposal. Several departments within the MCC are jointly responsible for planning, development, operation and maintenance of solid waste management systems; these include the Departments of Waste, Environmental Health and Sanitation, General Services, Community Services and Commercial.

Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC): The LWSC is a state owned enterprise with a commercial orientation and mandated to provide water supply and sewerage services to urban centres, including Monrovia and the capital cities of the various political subdivisions.

Ministry of Public Works (MPW): The MPW is responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of roads and highways, bridges, storm sewers, public buildings and other civil works in the country. Additionally, it has responsibility for the administration of urban and town planning, as well as provision of architectural and engineering services for all ministries and agencies of government. In principle, it is responsible for the installation of the entire infrastructure required for waste management delivery services including the construction of sanitary landfill facilities.

Ministry of Rural Development (MRD): The MRD is mandated to ensure that safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities are provided in rural communities. It also ensures the provision of policy direction on the construction, utilization and maintenance of low cost facilities that are appropriate for rural communities, such as Roads and hand pumps. Environmental management in Liberia has been fragmented with each public agency governed by its own policies. The roles and responsibilities amongst the principle agencies waste management is ambiguous and overlap in some cases. For example, the mandate of MCC overlaps with that of the MHSW regarding environmental health inspection activities. These mandates will require further clarification, especially during the development of appropriate institutional framework for the management of solid waste and sanitation.

6.2 Draft Environmental Policies and Laws

The National Environmental Policy of Liberia : 1999 74 | P a g e Environment Protection Agency Act of the Republic of Liberia : 1999 Environment Protection and Management Law of the Republic of Liberia : 1999

The Draft Environmental Policy of Liberia has a section on the conservation and Management of Water Resources. The section recommends that Water resources, both surface and ground should be managed and developed sustainably. The river basins should be well studied and included in basic planning and development and in environmental impact assessment programmes. Priority should be given to watershed management to control, conserve and regulate the balance in catchment areas and water courses.

6.3 International Environment Agreements Signed By Liberia

Treaty on Marine Life Conservation : 1966 The convention on Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Waste and other Matter : 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Ship : 1973/1978 Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna : 1981 Law of the Sea : 1982 International Agreement on the Protection of Tropical Timber : 1994 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) : 1996 Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone layer : 2001

INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AGREEMENTS SIGNED BUT NOT RATIFIED

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) : 1994 The Convention on Biological Diversity (Biodiversity Treaty : 1993 Environmental Modification Treaty : 1997

War and civil conflicts during the past decade in Liberia are key parts of the explanation of why water and sanitation provision (and much else besides) is so inadequate in Monrovia. Hundreds of thousands of people fled to Monrovia during the war in the 1990s. It is difficult to know the exact dimensions of these movements. The post-war elections are bringing prosperity to Monrovia by reviving basic services that will take a while to reach rural areas so war immigrants are not keen to return to rural areas so the population of Monrovia continues to increase.

One important change in perception of the problem of water and sanitation provision in Monrovia is the recognition of the previous poor performance of LWSC with responsibility for water and sanitation. The agency is going to improve its performance by ensuring the following:  The current team is going increase the performance of the agency.  LWSC is going to increase the proportion of city population served and will provide continuous services.  LWSC is going to improve the metering and billing arrangements.

75 | P a g e  LWSC is going to ensure that water prices will not fall well below the cost of production.  LWSC is not going to over staff utilities and will reduce the proportion of unaccounted water.

LWSC will recognize difficulty of balancing the need to keep prices down whilst ensuring sufficient revenues to allow good quality provision and coverage. The sector appraisal identified inadequate cost recovery and inadequate operation and maintenance as two of the principal constraints on the development of water supply and sanitation and both are largely the result of the weaknesses or incapacity of water and sanitation agencies.

Inadequate city government during the war generally had two aspects: local government structures and institutions that were weak, under-funded and often unrepresentative (including water and sanitation utilities with little or no investment capacity as described above). The development role of local government will help in the strengthening of institutions. If this happens, within Monrovia urban populations will become so used to the web of local institutions that serve, support and protect them. There should be emergency (24 hr on call) services for sanitation.

There should be an agency/committee within the city/service on whom demands can be made and to whom grievances can be voiced. A complaint department within customer service department should mediate and protect people from water disconnections, discrimination, exploitation and pollution. There should be safety nets for those who lose their jobs or fall sick and support for those who retire. There should be ombudsmen, consumer groups and watch dogs to whom people can turn if they feel that they have been cheated. This service should be readily accessible.

All of this will be possible because if local government institutions are now being overseen by democratic structures. Even if some services are going to be provided by private companies, non-profit institutions, or national or provincial public agencies the framework for provision and quality control is provided by local governments or local offices of national and Municipal government.

6.4 Gaps in Water Management Various gaps exist in the water management of Monrovia 1. Lack of an integrated water policy, 2. Lack of a comprehensive legal framework, 3. An outdated institutional framework that does not reflect present day reality, 4. Lack of management instruments such as a water quality and floods monitoring systems, and 5. The need to adopt the principles of IWRM. At present, there are no sector specific policies and strategies for water resources and water supply and sanitation. Lack of policy and strategies has resulted in no coherent institutional structure and has negatively impacted on the development of the sector and the management of water resources. However, the UNICEF assisted the country in drafting a letter of water and sanitation sector policy. Moreover, an Integrated Water Resources Management Policy (IWRMP) is recently under preparation by MLME where various sector issues papers are introduced that prompted more discussions and analysis on the sector strategy. The issues papers included: (i) Water allocation principles, (ii) Water legislation, (iii) Assessment and research, (iv) Priority action programme, (v) Monitoring and evaluation. This initiative is a step in the right direction and need to be consolidated and strengthened and to bring it to the level of a comprehensive Water Resources Policy. 76 | P a g e In addition to the above initiative, a draft Health Policy paper tagged “A framework for Health Reform in the New Millennium” was developed in 2000. The policy principles included: (i) Quality assured services, (ii) Accessibility and appropriateness, (iii) Acceptability and relevance, (iv) Efficiency and effectives, (v) Affordability and sustainability, (vi) Public satisfaction, (vii) Solidarity, and (viii) Community involvement and ownership. This Policy still need to be ratified.

At present there are no legal acts pertaining to the regulation towards water resources, involvement of stakeholders, promotion of consultative practices, demand driven approaches, private sector participation and decentralization. The only legislation relevant to the sector is the Act to amend the Public Utilities Law in 1973 that established the Liberia Water and Sewerage Corporation (LWSC). Through this Act, the LWSC is empowered to manage, operate and maintain drinking water and sewerage services to all parts of Liberia. Other institutions have no clear mandates for planning and development of the sector.

6.5 Sector Reform

Some activities towards reforming the water sector are on going with support from EC, World Bank and UNICEF. The country intends to undertake a comprehensive water sector development with a view of improving the enabling environment and planning instruments towards provision of sustainable water and sanitation services and effective development of water resources.. As a result of a request from the Government, the AfDB supported the MLME, to carry out a stakeholders workshop on 14 December 2006 to address the sector reform. During the workshop, there was a consensus between development partners to support the sector reform agenda through an action plan with the following objectives:

(i) Accelerate sustainable development of the sector, (ii) strengthen human and financial resources, (iii) Support effective management and regulation of Water Resources, (iv) Stakeholders involvement, participatory approach and decentralization, (v) Encourage independent services providers.

2.5.2 The AfDB subsequently prepared a water sector reform action plan report, which was shared with the development partners. The report outlined the course of actions for sector strategic planning and restructuring the enabling environment. The action plan is centered on implementation of the following: (i) IWRM Policy including; legislation, institutional reform, capacity building, human resources development, (ii) WSS Strategy including institutional arrangements, stakeholders roles, technology, finance and economy, and project formulation procedures, and (iii) Investment Plan including master plans, programmes and projects. The phasing of the action plan is envisioned as follows: (i) A short to medium programme, and (ii) A long-term programme. Terms of Reference is also prepared to carry out a study for the short to medium programme which will be financed by the African Water Facility (AWF).

77 | P a g e 5.6 Training plan

Table 5: Functional Training Plan

Service Delivery Activities Training Responsible Time table Cost Area Required organisation (USD) Disposal of used COSHH training LWSC October oil; handling of 2007 chemicals

Disposal of floc; Hygiene and LWSC, EPA October handling of sanitation; consultant 2007 treated water

Safety (fire, Health and Fire Brigade, November accidents etc) safety training consultant 2007

Prevention of Infection MHSW, November Water treatment water, personal, prevention and consultant 2007 and distribution equipment and control (51 staff) container contamination Water quality Laboratory MHSW December monitoring methods, EPA 2007 (WQM) different LWSC, approaches and consultant systems of WQM 30,000 Faults and Use of detection LWSC, September leakage detection equipment; consultant 2007 (use of geophone visual survey

Working with Health and MHSW, October live sewage safety; consultant 2007 prevention of contamination; infection control Duckweed Planting, EPA, LWSC August maintenance monitoring of 2008 coverage of duckweed, 78 | P a g e Fish population Curling, EPA, LWSC, October maintenance population consultant 2008 Operation of the monitoring, Sanitation System mortality (10 staff) monitoring Community Use of public MHSW, September sensitisation toilets; LWSC, EPA, 2007 Hygiene and Community sanitation; leaders, Food and water consultant handling and storage; causes and prevention of food contamination; water related diseases; what to do in the event of an infection; risks associated with public defecation

Programme Management Data base LWSC, planning management consultant, including contractor statistical packages; management; billing; metering; logistics management; monitoring and evaluation;

Training recommendations: use of staff rotation between water distribution, sanitation and sewerage is a good method of building internal capacity. This should be encouraged by LWSC.

79 | P a g e 7.0 Public consultations and disclosure requirements

The purpose of consultation is to ensure that civil and public health works being undertaken by LWSC contractors are well understood by people who may be affected, and that the concerns of such people are addressed in planning and implementing the Monrovia Water Supply and Sanitation Rehabilitation Works. Consultations will begin at least during the preparation of the ESMP for each participating agency. The approved and cleared ESMP will be disclosed publicly in Monrovia. Public participation and consultations would take place through workshops, meetings, radio programs, public readings and explanations of project ideas and requirements, as needed to meet the above objective.

Public documents would be made available at the, government, and local levels at suitable locations like the offices of the EPA, the MLME, University of Liberia (UL); UNICEF; WHO; Monrovia Public Libraries, /public libraries, complying with Liberian state laws regarding disclosure of public documents.

Consultations will be monitored by LWSC, EPA and MLME who will set their own verifiable indicators to assess the degree of participation of the key stakeholders during all phases of project implementation.

Table 6: Consultation plan

Project Stage Activities Institutional Responsibilities During Project Preparation Preparation of ESMP LWSC and MLME

Implementation MWSSRP LWSC/MLME/EPA

Monitoring Review of verifiable LWSC/EPA/MLME indicators

Public consultation is a permanent exercise during sub-project design and implementation as all of these activities are carried out at the local level. During design the Template is used to assess the environmental and social issues related to sub-projects. Either the LWSC or a member of the Water Users Committee will complete the draft Template, then pass on to the EPA officers for review, complementary assessment, approval and action. The implementation of the mitigation measures and the monitoring activities will involve a mitigation measures and monitoring committee from both the EPA and LWSC.

7.1 Estimated costs

The program includes an estimated cost of streamlining environmental and social issues (assessments, implementing mitigation and monitoring measures in sub-projects) about 3% of total program cost. At the sub-project design level the cost of environmental and social streamlining will be accurately estimated and includes: 1) the cost of environmental and social assessment (USD 25,000) 2) the cost of implementing the non contractual mitigation measures (USD 25,000) and 4) the cost of monitoring and evaluation (USD 25,000).

80 | P a g e 8.0 Implementation schedule and reporting

The AfDB/DFID activities are envisaged to take about 28 months commencing October 2007 with a target completion date of February 2010. The first three months will be used for the setting up, equipment and staffing the PT and recruiting and mobilising the TA experts and engineering consultants. Thereafter, the activities will be followed by the engineering consultants to review the scope of the rehabilitation works and preparation of designs and tender documents. These activities are expected to take seven months, resulting in various contract packages, the first of which will be ready for tendering within in two months after mobilisation of the engineering consultants. Bidding process for procurement of works and goods will then take three months. The physical implementation is expected to commence after one month of contracts award and last for 18 months thereafter. The activities implementation schedule is presented in Appendix 3

The PT with the assistance of TA experts will ensure that the envisaged targets are achieved on time and within the specified budget. The supervision will involve continuous on site monitoring of the works through the support of the consulting firm. Regular site meeting on a monthly basis will be held by PT/TAs as involving engineering consultants, contractors and resident donors in the Monrovia Rehabilitation works. The purpose of the meeting is to review the performance and achievements of the programme. In addition a quarterly review mechanism by PT/TAs will be instituted as part of the implementation arrangement. The bank will have a focal person to manage the performance and carry out desk and field supervisions of the programme. The Bank’s supervision missions with the required skill mix will be carried out each quarter. In addition a mid-term review will be carried out.

81 | P a g e ANNEX 1: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN SUMMARY

MONROVIA WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION REHABILITATION PROGRAMME (MWSSRP)

1. Introduction

The programme creates an enabling environment for Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) to restore Monrovia water and sanitation services which were severely damaged during the war. The Programme is classified in the environmental category 2 in accordance with AfDB Environmental and Social Procedures (ESP). The proposed programme will be supported through parallel financing from the EC, WB, DFID and Government. The AfDB will manage the funds of DFID. The programme will provide resources for the rehabilitation of the water and sanitation infrastructure to enable the LWSC to supply water to 700,000 people and provide sanitation services to 300,000 people by 2010.

2. Brief description of the programme and key environmental and social components

There are five components within the envisioned intervention: (i) Rehabilitation of Water Supply System, (ii) Sanitation Facilities, (iii) Capacity Building of LWSC, (iv) Programme Management, and (v) Sector Reform. The programme activities are aiming at rehabilitating the existing municipal water supply system and sanitation facilities at the level of small urban segments that will not affect significantly, taken individually, any sensitive environmental areas or social issues.

3. Major environmental and social impacts

Positive Impacts

Social impacts are expected to be positive, especially the gender aspects, as women are the key stakeholders for water and sanitation. The programme is going to improve health by providing safe, well distributed, and sustainable drinking water and sanitation sources. From the environmental and social perspectives especially poverty reduction, the programme will improve both human health and natural environment through rehabilitation of water supply system and provision of sanitation facilities. Replacement of all deteriorated equipment together with improved operation and maintenance will ensure that installed capacity is restored and that the system works efficiently. The resultant improvement in quality of delivery of the water service will also eliminate the present danger of contamination, a problem exacerbated by the serious water leakage in the distribution system. In addition, it will improve access to more economic opportunities, hygienic public sanitation facilities, and awareness raising and hygiene. With the programme, groundwater extraction will be diminished to sustainable yields and shallow wells as water sources will be placed on standby status to meet maximum-daily and emergency water requirements. Well water will also be used for other purposes.

82 | P a g e Negative Impacts

Negative environmental impacts which are similar to those typically associated with construction/rehabilitation of civil works would include exposure of public to the dangers of open excavation, increase in traffic, noise and dust pollution. Potential for the programme construction to interfere with existing underground utilities (water and sanitation, and communication and power cables), and may result in temporary suspensions of services. Sewage stabilization ponds do change the natural balance of ecosystems. They also do pose health problems to those that come in contact with them – the public health workers, and to inhabitants of surrounding settlements. Exposure to sewage or its products by LWSC sewer workers may result in a number of illnesses. The running cost of water production has increased due to additional components with high running costs (e.g. 350KVA generator to run the treatment plant) and others to run the sewage lift pumps with their associated air pollution and waste oils (250 gallons a month for all). There will be noise from the large generator. There is a risk of chlorine leakage in the treatment plant. There is also a risk of fire in the treatment plant due to the electrical and chemical components. Large volumes of water (a fraction of the treated water) used to clean sand bed filter is used. Floc rich in metals and fine particles hazardous to health is produced. More waste water is going to be produced by 700,000 people, which all have the potential to alter the environment. Pit latrines are in situ sanitation. The point to be made is that in situ sanitation can be very good quality but also can be very bad quality and pose health risks to users.

4 Enhancement and Mitigation

Institutional reforms and involvement of all the agencies involved in public health, safety, environment and water and sanitation are required for effective governance that will impact environmental and social issues that will arise from the programme.

The water treatment plant will be enhanced with several measures. Fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and high pressure hoses will be fitted. Chlorine detectors and scrubber system will be fitted in the plant. A greenbelt buffer of 15 -30 m would be left around the plant, and between the office and the 350KVA generator. Restricted entry into the plant will be applied to non essential workers. Equipment will be installed for automated control of the chlorine treatment. An operations manual for this and other equipment will be provided by the suppliers, and training on operational safety and emergency procedures will be provided as part of the capacity building component of the programme. Dewatered sludge (floc) from the water treatment plant will be recycled in the local brick production industry, or disposed of into a controlled floc well. Floc will be biologically stabilised before disposal. Waste oil from generators will be disposed of safely.

The contractors are responsible for implementing the following measures: Measures to be adopted to minimize dust generation during construction/rehabilitation of the distribution mains, network and sewer lines include (i) spreading water on dusty roads; (ii) maintaining water content in construction materials; (iii) covering or enclosing transportation vehicles, controlling the speed of vehicles, and selecting transportation routes to minimize impact on d

83 | P a g e dust sensitive receivers; (iv) covering or watering open spoil or storage sites; and (vi) minimizing on-site storage time of construction materials. Dust and mud will also be controlled by construction of containing wooden walls to control muddy runoff, and timely restoration of disturbed land to minimize the dust, provision of storm runoff detention ponds, controlled disposal of spoil material, and washing of truck tires before leaving the construction site are some of the environmental protection measures that will be adopted in the contract specifications. During the works and until final approval, if necessary the contractor will make the arrangement to guarantee a normal, undisturbed and safe circulation of traffic. Refuse generated by construction/rehabilitation workers will be swiftly cleaned up. Asbestos will be handled with greater care and disposed of by burying.

A programme would be established by LWSC to detect leaks and replace old pipelines to minimize it. Good quality materials will be used during the rehabilitation of pipelines in the first place. The integrated sensitization campaigns will target women on the significance of proper hygiene, cleanliness, water conservation, environmental protection and water-related diseases. Men would also be brought on board to make them understand their roles and responsibilities.

LWSC will use dock weeds and tilapia fish to treat sewage. Public toilets will be enhanced by increasing their number to meet internal standards; Good sanitation and hygiene education and sensitization; there should be no offensive odours; there should be sufficient number for service users or waiting time should be unsatisfactory; cost for provision of toilets that are accessible to disabled and elderly people; provide facilities such as tissues papers/water and diaper-changing etc; provide hand washing facilities ; provide a beautiful and tidy landscape and enhancing surround. The most important negative impact to be anticipated during the operational phase of the programme will be the increase in the volume of water consumed and of waste water generated.

5. Institutional Arrangements and Capacity Building Requirements

Several agencies are involved in water resources management in Liberia. These are: Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MHSW; Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (MLME): Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs (MPEA): The MPEA is Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC); Ministry of Public Works (MPW): Ministry of Rural Development (MRD). These institutions will enforce the follow up of the environmental and social impacts. A provision is made to strengthen the capacity of the LWSC through staff training, consumers enumeration, multiple sector reform studies, logistics and operational equipment. A technical assistance is also provided to enhance the implementation and operational capability.

84 | P a g e 6. Monitoring of the Program and Complementary Initiatives

Monitoring component of the Programme is the routine tracking of priority information about the programme and its intended outcomes during the rehabilitation works and operation of the provided facilities. It includes the routine tracking of the activities and outcomes of the key elements of performance through record keeping, regular reporting systems as well as programme observations and periodic surveys. It will assist the LWSC management to determine which areas require greater effort and will identify areas that contribute to improved water supply and sanitation performance. Monitoring of water supply, sanitation, mitigation and enhancement measures will be carried out at two levels:

At the level of the community the simplest monitoring indicators/factors/checklists are used to evaluate the status of their water and sanitation facilities and the environment around the water points. By making the communities responsible, the awareness and responsibility for environmental protection and carrying out mitigation measurements is enhanced and costs are minimized (there is no capital investments required at this level).

At the institutional level service delivery and coverage areas indicators for all the phases of the programme and their components are covered. For water quality parameter indicators such as physical, chemical, and biological parameters indicators are used, which require more sophisticated instrumentation (such as Automatic Water Quality Monitoring System (AWQMS)), financial investment and higher qualified personnel. Monitoring is part of the routine tasks of the LWSC personnel in collaboration with EPA, MHSW, MPW and relevant NGO personnel (WHO and UNICEF) who are involved in the water and sanitation sector. Evaluation is the periodic assessment of the change in water quality, reduction in waterish diarrhoea, reduction in wastage of water, health and safety, public health etc that can be attributed to the LWSC water and sanitation rehabilitation programme. It will determine whether the programme has had the desired effects of improving the lives and standards of living of the people of Monrovia. Evaluation will also involve looking for evidence of the programme impact. Evaluation will answer specific questions to inform programme managers and donors about the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability of the LWSSRP. The goal of monitoring and evaluation system is to provide reliable information on progress in implementing the mitigation measures outlined by the ESMP. The specific objectives are: To collect, process, analyse, and report on water, sanitation and capacity building activities of the programme; to verify whether activities have been implemented as planned to ensure accountability and address problems that have emerged in a timely manner; to provide feedback to relevant authorities to improve future planning; to document periodically whether planned strategies have achieved expected outcomes and impacts; to provide the donors and other stakeholders with regular feedback on programme or service performance; to track actual performance against planned objectives or expected outcomes; to provide information to improve programmes and services and serves as an early indication of progress or setback in the achievement of intended results by the programme.

85 | P a g e Several groups of indicators are proposed as follows:

 Process indicators: Measure whether or not interventions prescribed to reduce the negative impacts are being implemented.  Outcome Indicators: These indicators reflect the change in knowledge and practices and show use of water, sanitation and hygiene in the public toilets. These indicators also reflect the change in knowledge and practices of LWSC sanitation workers.  Impact Indicators: These show impact of preventive programmes in reducing the burden of diarrhoeal diseases associated with inadequate provision water and sanitation.  Prevalence of water borne diseases: this is the percentage of illnesses related to water and sanitation against the total number of all illnesses reported. This data will be obtained from MHSW and WHO.  Surveillance: ongoing process of measuring Physico-chemical and biological parameters of the raw and treated water at White Plains.

7. Public Consultations and Disclosure Requirements

Consultations were carried out during the preparation of the ESMP with all stakeholders. The approved and cleared ESMP will be disclosed publicly in Monrovia. Public documents would be made available at the government and local levels at suitable locations like the offices of the EPA, the MLME, Monrovia Public Library, and public library, complying with Liberian state laws regarding disclosure of public documents. The ESMP implementation will be monitored by LWSC and EPA, who will set their own verifiable indicators to assess the degree of participation of the key stakeholders during all phases of programme implementation.

8. Estimated Costs

The programme includes an estimated cost of streamlining environmental and social issues relating to mitigation measures, assessment and streamlining amounting to USD 725,000 broken down as follows: (i) USD 25,000 for the cost of environmental and social assessment (ii) USD 700,000 for the cost of implementing the mitigation measures. On top of this cost, the programme included a provision of USD 25,000 for monitoring the implementation of the ESMP. During implementation, the cost of environmental and social streamlining will be accurately adjusted in the detailed designs to be prepared by the programme consultants.

9. Implementation Schedule and Reporting

The AfDB/DFID activities are envisaged to take about 28 months commencing October 2007 with a target completion date of February 2010. The first four months will be used for the setting up, equipment and staffing the PT and recruiting and mobilising the TA experts and engineering consultants. The physical implementation is expected to commence after one month of mobilisation of the engineering consultants and last for 23 months thereafter.

86 | P a g e ANNEX 2: EPA Environmental Assessment Form

: Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia 4th Street Sinkor P.O. 4024 Monrovia, Liberia Application No._____ Reference No: (For Official Use) ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FORM

1. General Information

1.1. Project title:------1.2. Business Registration No (If applicable).:…………….. 1.3. Type of project (infrastructure, petroleum and mining, tourism, industrial, others (specify) ------1.4. Name of owner (individual, company, etc) ------1.5. Name of person in charge (the responsible person): ------Address:------Contact No: ------Fax No------E-Mail------

2. Project Data 2.1 Location of the project (please attach a map that clearly shows the location of the project in relation to residential areas and neighboring activities. The map should have a suitable and clear scale and should be approved by the competent administrative authority). Address of the project: ------A. (City, village, accredited industrial zone, others (please specify)------B. (In a residential area, outside a residential area)

Page | 87 C. (Individual building, a multiple story building with a residence above). Total area of the project (Square meter): ------

2.2. Type of project: New ( ), Extension ( ) Type of extension: ------. If the type of project is an extension, has an EIA study been submitted for the original project? Yes ( ) No ( ) . If yes, attach EIA Certificate 2.3 Production capacity: and/or storage capacity: Please mention units used: ------2.4. Main products: ------2.5 By-product: ------

2.6 2.6. A general description of the area surrounding the project including a description of the different activities, historical areas, protected areas, tourist and recreational areas, etc… ------Infrastructure available: - Water supply (network): Available ( ) Not available ( ) - Electricity supply (network): Available ( ) Not available ( ) - Sewers: Available ( ) Not available ( ) - Roads/railways: Available ( ) Not available ( ) - Natural gas: Available ( ) Not available ( )

2.7. Reasons for choosing the site and the degree of its safety against natural hazards and its compatibility with the neighboring communities: ------

Page | 88 3. Project phases and their expected starting dates: Construction: ------Actual operation: ------

4. A brief description of the construction stages ------

4.1. Sources of water: ------Water use: ------Rate of consumption: ------4.2. Type of fuel: ------Source of fuel: ------Rate of consumption: ------4.3. Expected number of workers: ------

5. Wastes resulting from construction, control and disposal methods: 5.1. Solid wastes: ------Type ------Amount: ------Methods of disposal:------5.2. Liquid wastes: ------Type ------Amount: ------Methods of disposal:------5.3. Gaseous emissions (smoke, dust, particulate matter)------Methods of control: ------5.4 Noise: ------Methods of control: ------6.Detailed description of the operation stage (diagrams should be attached( where necessary)------

Page | 89 ------6.1. Main components of the project: ------

6.2 Description of Industrial processes (demonstrate by catalogues and diagrams)

------6.3 Electrical supply used: ------Source: ------6.4 Type of fuel (natural gas, solar, fuel oil): ------Rate of consumption: ------6.5 Raw materials: Main: ------Auxiliary: ------6.6. Alternative raw materials ------6.7 Reasons for choosing the technology used------6.8 Expected number of workers: ------6.9 Source of water (public, groundwater, surface water, others):------Rate of consumption: ------

Page | 90 7. Wastes, Treatment Methods and Ways of Disposal (Expected standards of atmospheric emissions and waste water after treatment) 7.1. Liquid wastes 7.2. used oil: Waste water:------

Discharge rate: ( ) cubic meter/day ( ) Methods of discharge (public sewer, boreholes, etc) ------Industrial waste water: ------Discharge rate: ( ) cubic meter/day Expected analysis of industrial waste water: ------Methods of discharge (please choose one of the following options): - Directly into the municipal public sewer ( ) - The project has a unit for treatment of industrial wastewater which is discharged into the public sewer after treatment ( ) (please attach a catalogue or diagram for the waste water unit used and the standards of treated waste water) - It is discharged in a bore hole and then collected ( ) - It is discharged into surface water (please state the standards of wastewater, the discharge rate and the name of the surface water body) ------( ) - Other methods of discharge (please specify)------( ) 7.2. Atmospheric emissions:

Page | 91 (the type of atmospheric emissions, and the concentrations of SOx, COx, particulate matter, etc)------7.3 Solid wastes: ------Type:------Amount: ------Methods of transport, handling and storage:------Methods of disposal: ------7.4 Hazardous wastes: ------Type: ------Amount: ------

Methods of treatment::------Methods of disposal: ------

8. Preliminary analysis of environmental impacts during operation and methods of mitigation: 8.1 Impact of the project on air quality: ------8.2. Impact of the project on quality and availability of water:------8.3. Impact of the project on soil quality -:------

Page | 92 8.4. Visual impacts: ------8.5. Noise: ------8.6. Other predicted and significant impacts of the project: ------9. Description of any other measures not mentioned earlier to mitigate the negative impacts of the project : ------10. Measures undertaken to protect the health and safety of workers and fire prevention facilities:------DECLARATION I------hereby declare that the information provided on this form is true to the best of my knowledge and shall provide any additional information that shall come to my notice in the course of processing this application. Name: ------Position (in the capacity of): ------Address: ------Date: ------

FOR EPA OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Form filled in with the knowledge of the competent administrative authority

Name: ------Professional title: ------Signature: ------

Official Stamp

Page | 93 Page | 94 ANNEX 3: Implementation schedule

Monrovia Water and Sanitation Rehabilitation Programme Activities Chart 2007 2008 2009 2010 ACTIVITY 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 Loan Processing TA & Consultancy Services Preparation of BDs & Invitation to bid Bid Evaluation & Approval Contract Signature Mobilization Carrying out Services Access Road and Water Distribution System Preparation of BDs & Invitation to bid Bid Evaluation & Approval Contract Signature Mobilization Carrying out Services Sanitation Activities Preparation of BDs & Invitation to bid Bid Evaluation & Approval Contract Signature Mobilization Carrying out Services Capacity Building Preparation of BDs & Invitation to bid Bid Evaluation & Approval Contract Signature Mobilization Implementation of Services and Supply of Goods Audit Activities Commissioning of audit firms Approval Signing of Audit Contract Auditing of Accounts Annual Review Mid term Review Project Completion Supervision missions

Page | 95 ANNEX 4. Abbreviated Resettlement plan: Monrovia Water Supply and Sanitation Rehabilitation Programme

1. BACKGROUND

The Monrovia Water Supply and Sanitation Programme creates an enabling environment for Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) to restore Monrovia water and sanitation services which were severely damaged during the war. The Programme is classified in the environmental category 2 in accordance with AfDB Environmental and Social Procedures (ESP). The proposed programme will be supported through parallel financing from the EC, WB, DFID and Government. The AfDB will manage the funds of DFID. The programme will provide resources for the rehabilitation of the water and sanitation infrastructure to enable the LWSC to supply water to 700,000 people and provide sanitation services to 300,000 people by 2010.

There are five components within the envisioned intervention: (i) Rehabilitation of Water Supply System, (ii) Sanitation Facilities, (iii) Capacity Building of LWSC, (iv) Programme Management, and (v) Sector Reform. The programme activities are aiming at rehabilitating the existing municipal water supply system and sanitation facilities at the level of small urban segments that will not affect significantly, taken individually, any sensitive environmental areas or social issues.

Component (ii) of the sanitation rehabilitation programme has a sub component which involves the rehabilitation and operation a 26,000m2 sewage lagoon at Fiama. From the ESMP it has been established that the inundation of the Fiama Sewage lagoon will involve loss of crops by 4 subsistent farmers who are utilizing the land at time of the assessment. It will also result to the loss of homes by 28 households with a total 284 people who have built their house inside the project land.

The Policy Framework clearly spells out the different groups of persons considered for resettlement. For the component of the programme being considered here, 5 residential properties housing 5 families of 28 persons will be expropriated. Accordingly, an Abbreviated Resettlement Plan as outlined in Annex 5 of the Involuntary Resettlement Policy 2003 has been prepared. The elements of the abbreviated resettlement plan are as outlined below:

1. Census Surveys

Census surveys have been conducted at the sewage lagoon site and also along the perimeter of the facility to identify Project Affected Persons under the flowing criteria: 1. Affected persons whose structures are ancillary – houses of walls covered by zinc sheets or cloth. 2. Affected persons whose structures are of a permanent nature – set in concrete. 3. Affected persons who plant vegetables and crops in the disused lagoon.

The results of the census studies are presented in the Table below:

Page | 96 Summary of Census of Project Affected Persons and Properties

No. Item/Description No of Persons Estimated Amount Affected of Compensation 1. Crop Farmers on lands expropriated for construction of substation sites. - Total area of about 1 ha - Crops consist of rice, bananas, vegetables, 4 USD 8,000 mangoes, oil palm 2 Residential Properties affected - One 3-bedroom bungalow, concrete house with aluminium roof built on the lagoon. 24 USD 245,000 - Two 3-bedroom ancillary houses with aluminium 4 USD 24,000 roof built on the lagoon 3 Cost of constructing 12 inches thick steel reinforced 70 USD 150,000 retaining wall at the south-bank of the lagoon to separate and protect 17 settlements

Compensation for loss of income assumes disturbance permanently at 100% loss of earnings. The compensation amounts include 25% contingency to offset any cost overlooked that may arise due to the increase in property values and the identification of new properties for expropriation that have not been foreseen initially

4. The rationale for the compensation option:

Liberia has very ancient land laws conflicting with new land laws. Article 24 of the Constitution of Liberia spells out the rights of individuals whose property is required by the state for public use. At the time of the ESMP assessment it was clearly spelt out that all the settlers occupied the land illegally and theoretically these vulnerable persons could be legally evicted. However, following consultation with the project donors and other important stakeholders as well as GRC papers on Liberia it was agreed that the benefits of compensation will out-weigh any legal eviction for the reasons outlined in the following sections.

5. Land Reform in Liberia

“ People are openly stating that ‘if we fight again, we will fight about land’.” These words appear in the opening paragraph of a position paper drafted by the Governance Reform Commission (GRC) which has been charged with establishing a land reform commission in Liberia. The need for land reform is indeed dire. According to the GRC, 90% of the cases clogging the civil courts involve land. Officials at the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy say they are receiving 100 new complaints about land matters each and every day. According to the GRC, uncertainty regarding land tenure is delaying re-investment in the country, and a recovery of the Liberian economy. However, settling conflicting claims to land in Liberia will be a particularly challenging task. At the heart of the problem lies a century-old conflict between the customary land tenure of Liberia’s indigenous peoples, and the new system statutory tenure brought to the country two centuries ago by settlers from the United States.

Page | 97 The imported statutory system provided the legal basis for the rubber, timber and mining concessions that became the foundation of Liberia’s resource economy. As these industries expanded and acquired more of what had been customary land, traditional users found themselves excluded from the land base and the economy, except as workers – often poorly paid – on plantations or mining concessions. Over time the lack of access grew acute, and was in fact one of the root causes of Liberia’s civil war.

Post war, the issue continues to affect every aspect of natural resource exploitation including forestry, rubber and diamond mining. Under Liberian law, for example, subsurface mineral rights are vested solely in the national government. Surface land owners have no claims to what lies below. Customary and tribal laws view things differently however – which has, and will continue to generate conflict whenever gold, diamond or other minerals are found beneath traditional tribal lands. In the rubber sector, concessions have often overlapped lands that traditional peoples view as tribal property. The government is currently trying to adjudicate two such disputes involving the LAC and Sinoe rubber plantations. Similar challenges face Liberia’s Forest Development Authority, as it tries to allocate forest lands for commercial, conservation and community usage.

The war, in addition to exacerbating existing land conflicts, also created entirely new ones. As the war raged, hundreds of thousands of rural dwellers sought refuge in Monrovia, or fled to neighbouring countries as refugees. During their often prolonged absence, others came to occupy their lands, and now feel they have established claims to these “abandoned lands”. Complicating matters, many of the archives where land title documents were stored were destroyed during the conflict, in many cases deliberately.

5.1 Current Reform

The governance Reform Commission, under the direction of former Liberian president Amos Sawyer, has been given the task of laying the groundwork for the establishment of a formal land reform commission, which will then carry on the delicate task of land reform.

To accomplish this task, the GRC has established a steering committee and several working groups,which are to research aspects of the land reform issue in Liberia. The majority of the members consist of civil servants from affected government ministries, augmented by volunteers from Liberian NGOs. The research performed by these working groups is to inform a series of workshops or presentations to ordinary citizens, local leaders, and civil society groups in some or all of Liberia’s 15 counties. This outreach process is intended to inform Liberians about the land reform process, and to identify potential delegates for a national land reform congress, which will meet to hammer out a national vision for land reform, as well, possibly, as the terms of reference by which the land reform commission will operate. The deadline for this entire process was set for Liberian Independence Day – July 26th, 2007.

Even in a country with top-notch transportation and communication networks, with well developed social institutions and an engaged civil society, the timeline outlined by the GRC would be ambitious. In Liberia, heading into the rainy season when travel to the interior becomes arduous or impossible, the GRC’s evident haste was ambitious to a fault. Partly, the GRC’s schedule reflected a political desire on the part of the new government to be seen to be addressing this pressing issue. However, concurrent government reform processes by other departments are also driving the schedule. Liberia’s Forest Development Authority was working to classify forest land for community and commercial forestry and to begin the process of tendering logging contracts, with a view to resuming commercial logging in October 2007. The Ministry of Agriculture

Page | 98 launched Country Agricultural Assessment Study (CAAS) to serve as a driver for a new agricultural policy. Diamond mining resumed soon after the lifting of the UN sanctions in May 2007. Once mining claims are allocated and forest contracts tendered, the process of land reform inevitably becomes more complicated.

However, while the need for speed is real and understandable, it also works against the GRC’s other stated goal for land reform, namely that it be a participatory process, with broad representation, and input from Liberians of all walks of life. For the GRC to get the public participation it wants, in the deadline it has set up, it is going to have to put far greater resources into the public outreach process. This in turn will require far greater funding commitments, both from the Liberian government and from outside funders. Care should be taken to ensure that the agendas of outside funders do not skew the process, but this caution should not stop the GRC from seeking the funding it needs to carry out the consultation process properly. At the time of writing, the GRC land reform process was running on a skeleton staff, consisting of Dr. Sawyer, one newly hired technical expert, and a few administrative staff. Even more disturbingly, the very existence of the GRC appears recently to have been put in doubt, as a result of the failure of the Liberian President and Legislature to pass legislation guaranteeing an independent and adequately funded Governance Reform Commission. Given the critical importance of land reform to the future peace and stability of Liberia, there can be few tasks more important than ensuring that the GRC and its Land Reform Commission have the necessary resources and freedom of action.

6. Paper on land and conflicts: Lessons learnt

The disintegration of property rights occurs during armed conflict, and yet the importance of property, land, homeland, and territory to the cause and conduct of conflict presents particular dilemmas for a peace process. An end to armed conflict, especially prolonged civil conflict, creates a situation whereby a significant proportion of the affected population will begin to claim, re-claim, or access properties, lands, and land-based resources. The result is that land and property rights issues can be thrust to centre stage over large geographic areas in a short period of time for considerable numbers of people. And like the complex histories involving property, land, and territory that lead to conflict scenarios, post-war re-establishment of ownership, use, and access rights will likewise be complicated and problematic. Left unattended, land and property issues can provide significant potential for renewed confrontation. The programme recognises these problems and the need to engage civil society positively during the resolution of obstacles involving land occupation.

At the end of Mozambique's RENAMO war, there was considerable confusion with regard to land tenure dispute resolution, which significantly aggravated the ongoing peace process. In Nicaragua, the Contras re- armed during the peace process over misunderstandings regarding the issue of land access. And, in El Salvador the peace accord was vague with regard to local land tenure, contributing to different expectations, which in turn led to serious stumbling blocks in the implementation of the land question. The land issue ultimately became the final sticking point in the peace process, serving to block complete demobilization. Because of the spatial nature of both armed conflict and land tenure, the result can be profound within the context of a delicate and incipient peace. The importance of land and property rights issues during and subsequent to civil conflict is reflected in the significant role that agrarian reform has played in many insurgent and revolutionary agendas. More broadly, land issues play a fundamental role in post-war reconciliation and economic rehabilitation. Managing such issues in an effective manner in a peace process is not only important to avoiding disenfranchisement of local populations from land rights, a primary factor contributing to instability[2], but also to the secure re-engagement of populations in familiar land uses and the resulting agricultural production, food security, and trade opportunities important to recovery. The

Page | 99 fundamental components of the problem during a peace process include both an awareness of the different sets of tenure issues and their role in conflict and recovery, and the need to embrace an approach that engages local level post-conflict realities as building blocks in new property rights laws. There are essentially three sets of land tenure issues in a peace process:

1. those that may have contributed to the initial cause and conduct of the conflict, 2. those -- usually volatile -- land and property issues that emerged during a conflict, and 3. a set of tenure-related issues necessary for effective recovery.

6.1 Land Tenure as the Cause of Conflict

Pre-conflict ideas of the 'unjustness' in the way the state dealt with land rights for portions of the population can constitute an important aggregate force in violent means to right perceived wrongs. Such ideas can range from simple disappointment in, or distrust of the state and its ability, willingness, or bias in handling land issues, to the perception of the state as the enemy. In El Salvador grievances toward the landed elite and the state were at the core of the country's problems since the colonial era, and a primary cause of the conflict in the 1980s. This was also the case in Zimbabwe's liberation war due to land expropriations by the Rhodesian state, and in Mozambique's RENAMO war and Ethiopia's Derg war as a result of government villagization programs. Variants of such conditions also prevail for problems in southern Mexico, and in the way the land issue has been handled over the course of the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis. In the latter example, land confiscation for Israeli settlement-building and the resulting Palestinian grievances has been a significant feature of the overall problem.

Pre-conflict ideas of injustice regarding land and property can become especially problematic if they merge with other issues not necessarily related to land, serving to further decrease the state's influence. This is a fundamental part of the situation in Somalia, where disputes over access to grazing and water resources quickly merged with a history of perceived wrongs done to clans and subclans on issues not directly about land. Animosities tied to historical events also have played a fundamental role in perceptions about who has legitimate access to what lands and properties in the Balkans. The social fluidity of conflict then allows for the opportunity to act, with outcomes resulting in a very different land tenure situation than what existed prior to a conflict.

6.2 Land Tenure Issues Emerging During Conflict

Attempting to address only pre-conflict territory, land, and property issues in a peace process misses the very volatile tenure issues which develop during conflict, and which are most operative at the close of a war. While such issues can build upon prewar tenure problems, they nonetheless act to thrust the post-war lands situation in new directions. This is primarily due to the fact that armed civil conflict profoundly changes relationships among people. Because land tenure (even state tenure) is a system of rights and obligations in human relationships regarding land, accepted and established property rights arrangements can be at the forefront of change during conflict. The social and spatial repercussions of violence, dislocation, destruction of property, battlefield victory and loss, and food insecurity, together with the breakdown of administrative, enforcement, and other property-related institutions and norms, significantly alter ongoing relationships between people(s), land uses, production systems, and population patterns. In essence, armed conflict and its repercussions reconfigure the network of social relations upon which all land tenure systems depend. One of

Page | 100 the more acute examples in this regard is in the Middle East among Palestinians themselves, with those caught selling land to Israelis now facing a potential death sentence.

There are three broad processes which change the land tenure situation during conflict. First, physical separation of people from established home areas and ways of land use and tenure due to wartime dislocation, can be the first and most dramatic step toward the development of a changed approach to land rights. Physical separation changes, terminates, or puts on hold prevailing rights and obligations among people regarding land and property, especially where actual occupation, or social position forms the basis or a significant aspect of claim. In Guatemala, dislocation meant a changed approach to land rights for disadvantaged groups within communities, such as women and those of lower socio-economic strata. In Mozambique, the dislocating effects of the war led to concentrations of migrants, land-holders, and local customary groups in agronomically valuable areas, all pursuing very different approaches to land access, claim, and use. In these cases, significant incompatibilities in these approaches created problems for the peace process.

With no legitimate way to resolve competing claims to land and property after a war, the result can be land- holders abandoning features of tenure systems because disputes and the lack of legitimate mechanisms to resolve them have made such features unworkable. Or they believe there is little point in adhering to property rights rules that others are not following. And because dislocatees often develop or deepen political awareness while forced away from home areas, land problems in a post-war phase can easily be placed within the larger political dynamic[4]. Such a situation can challenge post-war authority structures and sources of legitimacy -- two of the most problematic aspects of a peace process.

Second, civil conflict necessarily results in a reduction in the power and penetration of state law, with the overall effect spatially variable. Early in a war the state's land and property administration institutions in affected areas of the country can be rendered crippled or inoperable, and rules unenforceable. This comes about due to general insecurity, areas occupied by opposition groups or populations sympathetic to them, diversion of resources, and the destruction of the physical components of the lands system such as local registries and other records. In East Timor the land and property building was among the first destroyed by militia activity along with most property rights records. As civil conflict grew in Somalia in the early 1990s, a reduced state capacity contributed to certain areas of the country being claimed by nomadic pastoralists under clan transient-access rights arrangements, by small-scale agriculturalists, by large scale-land interests accessing lands through the instruments of the crumbling state, and by heavily armed interests seeking access and control over lands by force. Also in Somalia, land registries for the valuable irrigated areas in the central part of the country have been largely destroyed and will lead to significant problems once a central government and peace prevail.

Also, forms of land tenure may be created which are directly connected to the opposition or insurgency, which is made legitimate by direct military occupation and military strength[5]. There can also be a reaction to the combination of insecurity generated during conflict, reduced capacity of the state, and the desire for the return of some form of order in society. The emergence of Shari'a courts in Somalia is one example of this, as is, arguably, the emergence of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Both were able to field their own mechanisms of enforcement for a variety of institutions, including land tenure.

Third, for many who find themselves in conflict scenarios, identity can be, or can quickly become, intricately bound up in land occupation, access, or perceived rights to specific lands in very powerful ways. The

Page | 101 existence of ethnic, religious, geographic, or other identities can be based on connections to land, home area, or territory. With armed conflict underway in such a context, some groups will seize the opportunity to advance the goals of substate self-determination, especially with regard to land. The result can involve land claim justification based on historical occupation. Such justification can gain renewed strength during conflict, and the pursuit of a 'return' to historical lands or territory from which groups were expelled or departed, recently or long ago, can become a priority in a peace process -- the Middle East again being a notable example. And as the identities of those involved in armed conflict develop to take on significant enmity with an opposing group or groups, approaches to land issues will reflect this and can become a prominent feature in the conflict and subsequent peace process. The difference between Palestinian and Israeli approaches to land and land tenure are, in a number of ways, grounded in identity. Identity for Palestinians especially, has developed to a significant degree to mean opposition to Israel, Israelis, and Israel 's approach to land administration.

6.3 Land Tenure in Recovery

While land issues can be at the center of many civil conflicts, in subsequent peace efforts they are most frequently addressed in a general framework presented in peace accords, or national-level legislative change. While a peace accord or victory in civil conflicts can to a certain degree resolve a spatial contest in a macro sense, implementation of accords (or new constructs associated with victory) for a population constitutes a local level land and propert- institutional dilemma not easily overcome. Although a peace process can attempt to reconstitute local level institutions, the difficulty stems more from issues of legitimacy and capacity of institutions to effectively recognize and resolve important local level tenure issues than from the ability of the peace process to derive and place institutions within different levels of government. This can mean that in many cases land access or re-access problems at the individual, household, community, and commercial levels will operate in a functional institutional vacuum.

The fate of evidence of rights to land and property during armed conflict is a particularly acute recovery problem. Claims to properties, lands, and territories have as their defining feature evidence that is regarded as legitimate by members of a certain 'community' (variably defined). Control over what is or becomes recognized as legitimate evidence is a difficult issue. Competition and confrontation over who exercises this control (definition of legal evidence) with regard to specific land(s) and properties can result in problems, as some claimants find themselves with evidence different from that considered legitimate or possessed by others as post-war scenarios develop.

The decision by the international community to allow the Bosnian Serbs to keep lands seized from Bosnia and Herzegovina meant that virtually no evidence other than ethnicity was legitimate subsequent to the conflict. Property holders who were 'cleansed' from certain areas were no longer able to use what were once legitimate titles or other documents as evidence for possession of property. Changes in evidence can also manifest itself in a more nuanced fashion as the relative value of pre-conflict evidence can shift to reflect changed circumstances. This was the case in Mozambique, where 'social' customary evidence such as testimony, community and lineage membership, and history of occupation were significantly devalued due to widespread dislocation. At the same time, the existence of permanent, physical investments in land, such as agroforestry trees, greatly increased in value as evidence[6]. Outright victory in a conflict can result in profound change in legitimate evidence, particularly as pursued by the state. Such was the fate of many land documents in Ethiopia when the Derg military regime took power in the mid 1970s, and again a decade and a half later when the Tigrayan-Eritrean forces took over.

Page | 102 Following the end of a conflict, disappointment in a newly reconstructed state can manifest itself in the development of different forms of local alternatives during recovery, particularly since the ideology, mobilization, and wartime aspirations are still fresh in the minds of many, and a post-conflict state can find that it has reduced influence and legitimacy. In Zimbabwe local distrust of the state was significant even when the insurgency won and went about establishing a government and policies regarding land. This was because local chiefs were purposefully left out of the new state due to their alliance with the Rhodesian administration.

6.4 Post Conflict Land Policy Reform

Legislative change in a peace process deserves particular mention in a discussion of post-war land tenure. One of the hallmarks of a peace process, and often compelled by a peace accord and the international community, legal reform is intended to promote social change, and new laws or modifications to laws are meant to aid in the inclusion and reconstruction of society. Revising national policy to incorporate functional aspects of a peace accord involving land and property is frequently an important part of the post-war endeavor[7]. Such legislative change, however, can be profoundly out of step with emerging tenure realities in post-conflict scenarios. Griffiths notes that informal ties of mutual rights and obligation are frequently much stronger than formal law, and as such can serve to deflect the latter.

This is the case in post-conflict situations where legislative change can be overlaid onto sets of rights and obligations that are already in existence, very binding, and often much stronger than new or revised laws. In a land tenure context, this means that during a peace process, relationships that have been created and maintained during a war to facilitate property, land, and territorial needs (land market transactions, inheritance, etc.) and aspirations (group claims to lands) will predate and can be significantly stronger than any new laws attendant on a fragile peace and a war-weakened state. The effect can be particularly pronounced as mechanisms for disseminating and enforcing new laws (especially with agrarian, semi-literate, war-weary populations) will also be weak or nonexistent. Hence the objective of changing social arrangements in certain ways with legislation frequently fails or is deflected in a peace process.

Land policy reform in a peace process is a delicate matter. Not only do new laws need to address land and property issues important to the cause of the conflict, issues which emerge during conflict, and issues important for recovery (including restitution and international investment), but new laws must embrace what people are already doing "on the ground," with a view to moving eventually from the fluidity of post-conflict situations to a more solidified and peaceful social and legal environment.

Positive examples exist. In a case from India, local-level state officials in some locations are given the discretion to operate at the interface between formal and informal legal systems and pursue opportunities for adjustments between systems. In this case local-level officials do not seek to impose state law, but instead attempt to convince, co-opt, or realistically use any legal system, custom, norm or combination thereof to attain the state's objectives. While not born out of armed conflict, the example nevertheless provides some potential utility for a peace process. Local-level officials can be charged with facilitating the dialogue, interaction, and adaptation between the state and other normative orders which are in place subsequent to a conflict, especially with regard to land dispute resolution.

Ethiopia provides a different, and more formalized example. After several decades of civil conflict, Ethiopia's constitutional article 78 (5) now accords full recognition to non-state customary and religious

Page | 103 courts of law, and their legal guarantee is ensured. In Ethiopia significant room appears to be allowed for litigants to 'forum shop' where customary and religious courts only hear cases where contesting parties consent to the forum[9].

In the Mozambican peace accord and subsequent legislation regarding land, broad state recognition of multiple approaches to tenure has contributed much to the success of the processes. In East Timor a special restitution law is to be put into place as a priority law to deal with the many problematic issues involved in the post conflict situation.

7. Conclusion

Most civil institutions cannot endure the stresses of armed conflict. This is especially the case for land tenure institutions where land issues were a significant component of the cause and maintenance of the conflict. What is needed in peace processes attendant on today's conflicts, is recognition of, 1) the difference between pre-conflict, post-conflict, and recovery tenure issues; and 2) the opportunities that exist for engaging multiple approaches to land and property that will, in time, especially when supported by legal reform, move to a more solidified social, political, and legal environment within which land and property issues operate.

Because all societies experience land conflict, ultimately what is important to a peace process is equitable access to legitimate land tenure institutions able to embrace issues that exist between groups or between individuals who may view land resources very differently, possess profoundly different evidence with which to pursue claims, and may have participated or sympathized with different sides in the conflict.

8. Consultation

Initial consultations have been held with the potential project affected persons during the census of properties along the project site. A comprehensive information and education program is being developed and will be implemented as part of the project preparation activities. Both LWSC and MLME will provide appropriated Contact persons to handle any issues raised by the affected persons. In addition EPA, the local authorities and community based organizations and NGOs will provide independent monitoring.

9. Compensation Options

In line with best practice procedures, the rehabilitated lagoon will be optimised to minimize the extent of disturbance as identified in this initial census. Apart from the properties that need to be demolished completely to make way for the project, the bulk of the affected persons will suffer various degrees of negative impacts. Those that are very close to the lagoon will suffer the initial bad odours and fly population before the lagoon is stabilised by duckweed and fish.

Those with permanent structures built in the lagoon will have to leave within a short period of time. All these options will be fully documented and discussed with the affected persons prior to actual finalization and implementation.

10. Institutional Arrangements

Page | 104 As stated earlier, the project components that raise issues of resettlement and compensation fall under MLME.

The institutional responsibilities for implementation of the resettlement plan are outlined in the Resettlement Policy Framework developed for the water supply and sanitation programme and also in both the EPA and MLME Environmental and Social Policy Frameworks. Each organization will assign an Environmental Coordinator for the implementation of the components under LWSC. In each organization, the Environmental Coordinator working through the Legal and Estate departments will be directly responsible for implementation of the resettlement plan. Local NGOs and CBOs will be involved in monitoring the plan.

The functions and responsibilities of the Environmental Coordinators are presented briefly below:

Environmental Coordinator – EPA The Environmental Coordinator for EPA shall be responsible to the Project Manager but liaise and coordinate with Project Engineer on or environmental management issues and also report functionally to the Director, Environment and Sustainable Development Department. His duties shall include:  Liaising with the EPA for the project environmental guidelines.  Monitor compliance of environmental mitigation plans/programmes by the contractor(s) and also in accordance with Environmental Protection Agency Regulations.  Preparation of all project environmental reports.  Liaise/coordinate with all relevant regulatory bodies and organisations.  Conduct environmental audits in accordance with project monitoring guidelines  Serve as a liaison between project contractors, EPA and relevant regulatory agencies to ensure full compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.  Increase project staff awareness of environmental issues through training programmes  Organise activities to motivate and maintain interest of project staff in environmental issues.  Make budgetary provisions for environmental programmes.

Environmental Coordinator - MLME MLME shall designate the Environmental Officer as the Project Environmental Coordinator who will also serve on the Project Implementation Unit with support from the Projects, Estate and Legal Departments.

The functions of the Environmental Officer shall include:

 Ensuring project compliance with all relevant environmental, social, health and safety regulations  Liaison with all relevant regulatory bodies and organizations – EPA, housing inspectorates  Formulation and review of environmental and social policies and practices associated with the project  Liaison between Project Department and relevant MHSW departments on all health, environment, safety and social matters connected to the project  Assisting in the education and training of project staff in environmental, social and safety awareness  Making budgetary provision for project environmental programmes  Undertaking environmental and social monitoring activities for the project  Working closely with project contractors to ensure that all monitoring and mitigation guidelines recommended for the project are strictly adhered to during the various phases. This will include following

Page | 105 all heath and safety guidelines outlined and following strictly the company’s environmental policy guidelines  To organise activities to motivate and maintain the interest of project staff in environmental issues  To increase project staff awareness of environmental issues through training programmes and review meetings  To coordinate investigations on all types of accidents  To conduct environmental audits in accordance with project monitoring guidelines  To serve as liaison between project contractors, the Company and relevant regulatory agencies  To produce environmental reports covering the project  To develop a work plan for the implementation of the EMP  To establish and run a reporting system on progress (or otherwise) in implementing mitigation measures (including contractors obligation), collaboration with other agencies, etc.

11. Legal Framework: Relevant Article to the issue of compensation

Constitution of Liberia

Article 24 a) While the inviolability of private property shall be guaranteed by the Republic, expropriation may be authorized for the security of the nation in the event of armed conflict or where the public health and safety are endangered or for any other public purposes, provided: (i) that reasons for such expropriation are given;

(ii) that there is prompt payment of just compensation;

(iii) that such expropriation or the compensation offered may be challenged freely by the owner of the property in a court of law with no penalty for having brought such action; and

(iv) that when property taken for public use ceases to be so used, the Republic shall accord the former owner or those entitled to the property through such owner, the right of first refusal to reacquire the property. b) All real property held by a person whose certificate of naturalization has been cancelled shall escheat to the Republic, unless such person shall have a spouse and/or lineal heirs who are Liberian citizens, in which case the real property shall be transferred to them in accordance with the intestacy law. c) The power of the Legislature to provide punishment for treason or other crimes shall not include a deprivation or forfeiture of the right of inheritance, although its enjoyment by the convicted person shall be postponed during a term of imprisonment judicially imposed; provided that if the convicted person has minor children and a spouse, the spouse or next of kin in the order of priority shall administer the same. No punishment shall preclude the inheritance, enjoyment or forfeiture by others entitled thereto of any property which the convicted person at the time of conviction or subsequent thereto may have possessed.

12. Budget

The estimate for compensation is USD 427,000. This comprises of USD 8,000.00 for compensation for permanent loss of farming land, USD 245,000 for expropriation of buildings, USD 150,000 for construction

Page | 106 of 6 inches steel reinforced concrete retaining wall (barrier) to separate and protect legally constructed houses which are less than 150 meters away from the lagoon.

The schedules and sources of funds are yet to be worked out and finalized.

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