W A T E R S U P P L Y A N D S A N I T A T I O N S E C T O R – A D D I T I O N A L F I N A N S I N G F U N D E D B Y T H E A S I A D E V E L O P M E N T B A N K

IMPROVEMENT OF SETTLMENTS WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SYSTEMS

Date of preparation 31.01.13

INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

SUBPROJECT I

Town of Echmiadzin and communities of , Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Dwghs, Shahumyan, Shahumyan PF, Mousaler, , Houshakert, Voskevaz, Voskehat, Oshakan, , Ptghunk of Marz

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT ...... 3 2. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARD DOCUMENTS ...... 3 3. SCOPE OF WORKS ...... 3 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SYSTEMS...... 4 5. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND CLIMATE OF THE SETTLEMENTS ...... 5 3.1 Echmiadzin town and Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, , , Shahumyan, Shahumyan Poultry Farm, Norakert, Houshakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk rural communities of Armavir marz 5

3.2 Voskevaz, Voskehat and Oshakan rural communitis of Aragatsotn marz ...... 6

6. BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL SPECIAL PROTECTED AREAS ...... 6 6.1 Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan poulty farm, Norakert, , Aghavnatun, Ptghunk rural communities and Eshmiadzin town of Armavir marz. 6

6.2 Voskevaz, Voskehat and Oshakan rural communities of Aragatsotn marz ...... 7

7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ...... 8 7.1 Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist ...... 9

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1. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

WSSP Project will improve public health and environment for about 400,000 people (households and other consumers) living in 18 towns and up to 92 villages1 through safe, reliable and sustainable water supply. The outcome of the Project is improved access to safe, reliable, and sustainable WSS services managed on commercial principles and environmentally sound practices. The Project will also support poverty reduction by (i) reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases and costs of medical care; (ii) improving the time poverty of women due to labor intensive housework such as water collection, which may allow them to participate more in social and economic activities; (iii) providing safer and more reliable water supply; and (iv) improving the quality of life of households in all the project towns and villages by improving their access to safe and sustainable drinking water. Similar to the original WSSP, the Additional Financing Project will fund two project components which include: (i) municipal infrastructure rehabilitation and improvement; and (ii) management improvement and development which include gender features.

2. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARD DOCUMENTS

In accordance with the ADB Environmental policy (November , 2002) the Subproject is ranked to B category which does not need extended EIA, excluding aslo Environmental expertise, according to the RA law on “Environmental Impact Assessment ” (issued on November 20, 1995.) and the RA Government decree “Threshold of envrironmantal impact activities subject to expertiz ” (N-193, 30 March 1999). As a B Category Project ADB Policy requered developement of Initial Environmantal Examination/ IEE reports for each Subproject (1 report) and site specific Environmantal Management Plan/EMP (separetly report for each lote of the subproject).

3. SCOPE OF WORKS

This subcomponent of the subproject aims at improvement of water supply systems of the following communities: town of Echmiadzin and Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan Poultry Farm, Norakert, Houshakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk villages of Armavir marz and Voskevaz, Voskehat, Oshakan villages of Aragathotn Marz.

Priority has been given to improvement of water supply systems: Scope of works for improvement water supply systems of Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan Poultry Farm, Norakert, Houshakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk, Voskevaz, Voskehat and Oshakan villages is as follows:

 Construction of polyethylene pipelines d50-d200 - 127.0 km

1 The number of towns and villages may change subject to further detailed assessments. 3

 Installation of valve assemblies - 74 pcs

 Construction of buried valve chambers - 170 pcs

 Individual house entry pipes - 59.5 km

 Individual house water metering blocks - 5950 pcs

Scope of works for improvement of sewage system of Echmiadzin town includes:

 Construction of polyethylen sewage pipes d160-d200 - 0.7 km

 Construction of inspection chambers - 30 pcs

Population of Echmiadzin town and Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan Poultry Farm, Norakert, Houshakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk, Voskevaz, Voskehat and Oshakan villages at the date of 01.01.2012 comprises 83825 people, out of which 56400 reside in the town. Total number of customers is equal to 6190.

Population growth index according to the data published in the “Demographic Handbook of Armenia 2007” is 0.43%.

As a result of the Project implementation the communities residents will get access to the drinkin quality water and sustainable water supply.

4. DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SYSTEMS.

Water supply of Echmiadzin town and Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan poultry, Norakert, Hushakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk, Voskevaz, Voskehat, and Oshakan rural communities is implemented from the Bazmaghbyur and Ghazaravan undergroung sources through three main systems:

. Bazmaghbyur-Echmidzin gravity system

. Ghazaravan-Echmiadzin gravity system

. Ghazaravan-Echmiadzin gravity system (“Chaleri Djur”)

Currently there are 10 catchements and 2 chlorination stations in operation. Existing 14 deep wells are not operated and used for supply of water to Echmiadzin town and villages.

Water from headworks is being transported by three main pipelines with diameters varying from 300 through 600mm with total length 136km.

In 2007-2011 water supply network of Echmiadzin town has been rehabilitated under the World Bank funding. 4

In 2008-2012 rehabilitation of external feeding water supply systems of Echmiadzin town and rural communities has been implemented in frame of Water Supply and Sanitation Project funded by the ADB.

Among the communities under consideration only Echmiadzin town has sewerage system, but the waste water treatment plant is not functioning. There are broken sections within main collectors and inter-district sewerage networks, some of the inspection chambers need repair.

Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan Poultry Farm, Norakert, Houshakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk, Voskevaz, Voskehat and Oshakan villages have no sewerage system, people make use of eather outhouse toilets or indoor toilets connected to outdoor sewage collecting chambers. In some of the villages individual buildings such as schools, kindergartens and others, have sewage systems.

5. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND CLIMATE OF THE SETTLEMENTS

From the communities covered by the subproject town of Echmiadzin and Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan Poultry Farm, Norakert, Houshakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk villages administratively belong to Armavir marz, while Voskevaz, Voskehat and Oshakan villages belong to Aragathotn marz. They comprise part of south-south west area of the country, where terrain has slight inclination and envolves not high hill ranges. Altitudes vary between 950 and 1100m asl.

3.1 Echmiadzin town and Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan Poultry Farm, Norakert, Houshakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk rural communities of Armavir marz The area of Armavir marz under consideration located in the west of Ararat valley, on the left bank of Araks river. The area of Armavir marz is the smallest and occupies 1200sq km. The marz capital town is Armavir. Town of Echmiadzin located 25 km far from the marz capital, and 20 km far from Yerevan city.

The area is characterized by warm, hot summers and cold non-storm winters. Monthly average temperature in July is 21,5oC and in January 3.8oC. Air absolute maximum temperature is 41oC, absolute minimum is -31oC. Average annual precipitations vary between 280 -340mm. Snow cover reaches 42cm. Soil freezing depth vary between 0.5-0.7m, depending on altitude. Air average relative humidity equals to 59%. Wind annual average speed is 1.8m/sec.

From the orography point of view one can distinguish two regions in Ararat’s ravine: one encompasses the foothills zone, and the second one that includes the area under study is а wide valley filled with river and flood sedimental formations (accumulation terraces and floodplain of Araks river ).

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From hydro-geological point of view the area is rich with undeground waters. They can be found on the different depths starting from 0-5 through 100 meters and deeper. Existance of the ground waters is conditioned by river and lake formations and cracked andesitic basalts.

Populated area of the communities is located at the elevations limited by 800 and 1000 meters asl.

3.2 Voskevaz, Voskehat and Oshakan rural communitis of Aragatsotn marz The area under consideration of Aragatsotn region is located in foothill zone of Ararat Ravine at a distatnce of 3-5 km to south-west from Astharak towm and at distance of 20-22 km from Yerevan city. The regional center is Ashtarak city.

The climate of the area under study in Aragatsotn marz is acutely continental characretized by hot summers and rather cold winters. The average annual air temperature is +9.1 C, the аsolute minimal temperature is down to -34 C and absolute maximum temperature is up to +38 C. Аverage annual precipitation rate is 447 mm, and the maximal precipitation rate is 715 mm. The average snow cover in winter is 28 cm and the maximal one is 68 mm. The maximal soil freezing depth is 79 cm. The air relative humidity average for several years is 62%. The annual average wind speed is 2.8 km/sec.

The terrain here is conditioned by specificities of the geological, climate, disposition and other factors. The area of Kasakh river has widespread landscape rugged with foothill specific valleys. On the northern part the area is contiguous with the southern lower slopes of Aragats mount, where volcanic elements of the Armenian mountain range are present in geological formation.

Since volcanic formations are subject to intensive erosion and are badly fractured, the underground waters are infiltrated rather deeply and located at the 15-20 m and deeper.

Populated areas of the communities is located at the elevations limited by 950 and 1100 meters asl.

6. BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL SPECIAL PROTECTED AREAS

6.1 Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan poulty farm, Norakert, Hushakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk rural communities and Eshmiadzin town of Armavir marz. Flora of the area is represented by the species of the dry steppe vegetation types developed on the sandy- clayey parent rock of Yerevan floral region. There are around 130 types of plants registered in this ladnscape zone, and predominant spicies are aquatic plant lanceolate (ALISMA LANCEOLATUM), arrowhead (SAGITARIA SAGITTIFOLIA L.), threeleaf arrowhead (SAGITARIA SAGITTIFOLIA L.), COUSINIA TENELLA, ACANTHOPHYLLUM PUNGENS, SALSOLA TAMAMSCHJANAE, SPINACIA TETRONDA, ASTRAGALUS PARADOXUS, TRIGONELLA CAPITATA, AEGILOPS CRASSA, TRITICUM ARARAICUM), TAMARIX, TANARIX OCTANDRA and others:

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The species in this areas that need protection are as follows Acorus calamus L. (Sweet Flag), Connvolvulus commutatus Boiss, Lactuca Takhtadzani Sosn, Astragalus paradoxus, Diospyros lotus, and others: There are 113 vertebrates widespread in this landscape zone. The spiecies that are typical and dominant in the area under study and also whidespread all over Armenia, are: musk white-toothed shrew (Crocidura), red fox (Vulpes vulpes L.), golden hamster (Cricetus auratus Nat.), common vole (Mucrotus arvalis Pall), European partridge (Perdix perdix L), common crane (Grus grus L), Armenian Gull (Larus armeniacus But.) and other. Spieces recorded in the Red Book that can be found in the region are: long eared hedgehog (Erinaceus auritas Gmelin), Mehely’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus Mehelyi), glossy ibis (Plagadis falcinellus Linneaus) and marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna peregusna Guld). There are no vunerable areas from the ecolocical point of view in the of the sub-project implementation territory. There is “Vordan karmir” reserve in the region and its border is 18 km far from Eshmiadzin city, the one closest to the reserve from all the communities covered by the project. This lands will not be harmfully affected in the result of the project implementation. There are no cultural, archeological or inherited sites at the populated areas covered by the sub-project. This data was collected through interviews with the village mayors of the rural communities.

6.2 Voskevaz, Voskehat and Oshakan rural communities of Aragatsotn marz Flora of the areas under study is represented by the spiecies of Yerevan and Aparan floritic regions. Meadow, desert and semi-desert plant spieces are typical for this area.

Gramineae are represented by: timothy grass (Phleum sp.), meadow-grass (Poa sp..), and fescue (Festuca sp..): Most often one can see the formations of wormwood (Artemisia fragrans) Desert spieces are represented by: feathergrass, fescuegrass and brome-grass formations, and of these speicies predominate Festuca valesiaca, Koeleria cristata, Stipa tirsa and others: There is significat representation of the thyme varieties such as sheep's Fescue (Festuca ovina), sedge and other. One can also find here Plantago (plantain), Tragopogon (salsify), Taracsacum (dandelion), Betonica (betony), Vicia (vetch), Trifolium (clover), Cirsium (thorn), Euphorbia (spurge), Papaver (poppy), and also bushes, like: rosehip (Rosa), jerusalem-thorn (Paliurus), prickly-thrift (Acantholimon):

The following tree spiecies can be found in the region: poplar (Populus), acacia (Robinia), maple (Acer), sycamine (Morus), wild appricot trees (Armeniaca), whitethorn (Crataegus), willow-leaved pear (Pyrus salicifolia), common ¨ raywood ash-tree (Fraxsinus excelsior, F.oxycarpa), spirea crenate (Spiraea crenata), eastern barberry (Berberis orientalis), Centennial cotoneaster, (Cotoneaster integerrima), georgian honeysuckle (Lonicera iberica), shrubby jasmine (Jasminum fruticans), elm-tree (Ulmus), cherry plum (Prunus) , oleaster (Elaeagnus), willow (Salix), rose hip bush (Rosa).

The spiecies recorded in the new version of the Flora Red Book of the RA and growing in the region where project is to be implemented are as follows: (i) Hohenackeria exscapa (Stev.) K.-Pol., EN – is endangered spicies:

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One can find the following spiecies of invertebrats in this region: grasshoppers /Oedopoda coerulescensd, Oe. Miniata, Pholidoptera satunini, Scintharista notabilis, Tmethis festivus, Spingootus/, crickets /Phytodrymadusa armeniaca/, dipterals /Tomomyza araxana, Bombilus schelkovnikovi/: Only yellow scorpion can be found here / Buttus caucasicus/ of all scorpion types.

The most common spiecies of mamals are hare (Lepus europaeus), fox (Vulpes vulpes), wolf (Canis lupus). Representatives of the rodents are also common here, including spiecies of the muridae family (Muridae), and in particular field voles(Microtinae):

The most widespread types of birds are Passeriformes and Falconoformes.

The following spiecies of reptiles are typical for this zone: Snake-eyed Lizard /Ophisops elegans/, Strauch's Racerunner /Eremias strauchi/ and Transcaucasian racerunner /E.pleskei/ and other.

There are no vunerable areas or areas under special protection on the territory of the sub-project implementation.

7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) has revealed that no damage is expected to be caused to the landscape, flora, fauna, land and water resources of the area where works on improvement of the water supply systems will be impelemnted.

The sub-project will be implemented mainly in the urban areas of the settlements, and new areas will not be used for the purposes of the works implementation.

As to the preliminary environemntal inspection the sub-project was classified as B category project. Along with the Detailed Design an Environemntal Management Plan has to be elaborated for this project, which shall cover all the communities that are included in the Detailed Design.

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7.1 Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist

Country/Project title Armenia Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project-Additional Financing

Sector Division: Sub-project 1- town of Echmiadzin and communities of Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Shaumyan, Shaumyan Poultry Farm, Musaler, Norakert, Hushakert, Voskevaz, Voskehat, Oshakan, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk

Screening Questions Yes N/A No Remarks A. Project Siting Is the project area…

. Densely populated? Ararat valley is one of the most densely + populated areas in Armenia

. Heavy with development activities? 40% of the settlements have urban + development project documentation (master plans) + . Adjacent to or within any environmentally sensitive areas?

Almost all settlements have cultural heritage . Cultural heritage site + monuments, but the project does not deal with them + . Protected Area

+ . Wetland

+ . Mangrove

+ . Estuarine

+ . Buffer zone of protected area

+ “Vordan Karmir” protected area located . Special area for protecting biodiversity 18km far from project site + The area spreads from Ararat valley flatland . Bay to foothill landscapes crossed by ravines B. Potential Environmental Impacts Will the Project cause…

. pollution of raw water supply from upstream wastewater discharge + water supply is foreseen from ground waters from communities, industries, agriculture, and soil erosion runoff? . impairment of historical/cultural monuments/areas and loss/damage + Almost all settlements have cultural heritage to these sites? monuments, but the project does not deal with them . hazard of land subsidence caused by excessive ground water + Not applicable for subprojects pumping?

. social conflicts arising from displacement of communities ? + Not anticipated

. conflicts in abstraction of raw water for water supply with other + In the frame of the subproject potable water beneficial water uses for surface and ground waters? supply will be done from underground sources,. The drinking water shall not be used for irrigation or any other purposes.

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Screening Questions Yes N/A No Remarks . unsatisfactory raw water supply (e.g. excessive pathogens or mineral + In the frame of the subproject potable water constituents)? supply will be done from underground sources, after treatment. . delivery of unsafe water to distribution system? +

. inadequate protection of intake works or wells, leading to pollution + Improvement work includes reconstruction of water supply? of wells, which can not result in water pollution . over pumping of ground water, leading to salinization and ground + The design doesn’t foresee pumping of subsidence? ground water, that is why the implementation of the design can not result insalinization and ground subsidence

. excessive algal growth in storage reservoir? + Not anticipated

. increase in production of sewage beyond capabilities of community + In the communities waste water treatment facilities? plants are not existing.

. inadequate disposal of sludge from water treatment plants? + Not applicable for the subproject

. inadequate buffer zone around pumping and treatment plants to + The pumping station designed within the alleviate noise and other possible nuisances and protect facilities? project framework will be isolated by the fence protecting the sanitary zone . impairments associated with transmission lines and access roads? + Impairment associated with access roads, and crossings with transmission lines will be carried out according to the required norms . health hazards arising from inadequate design of facilities for + Safety measures will be included in the receiving, storing, and handling of chlorine and other hazardous Environmental Management Plan (EMP) chemicals.

. health and safety hazards to workers from handling and management + While working with chlorine or other of chlorine used for disinfection, other contaminants, and biological contaminants prescribed technological and physical hazards during project construction and operation? procedures shall be followed.

. dislocation or involuntary resettlement of people? + Not foreseen

. disproportionate impacts on the poor, women and children, + Not foreseen Indigenous Peoples or other vulnerable groups?

. noise and dust from construction activities? + Mitigation measures will be developed in EMP (Environmental Management Plan). . increased road traffic due to interference of construction activities? + Not significant increase is predicted for the construction period. . continuing soil erosion/silt runoff from construction operations? + Detailed measures of construction management will be described in the EMP . delivery of unsafe water due to poor O&M treatment processes + Mud accumulation issue is not applicable. (especially mud accumulations in filters) and inadequate chlorination Monitoring of chlorine residuals in due to lack of adequate monitoring of chlorine residuals in distribution system will be performed distribution systems? according to established procedure.

. delivery of water to distribution system, which is corrosive due to + During operation of this system corrective inadequate attention to feeding of corrective chemicals? chemicals for water treatment are not used.

. accidental leakage of chlorine gas? + Not anticipated.

. excessive abstraction of water affecting downstream water users? + The design of the system reconstruction is developed to exclude such cases . competing uses of water? + The project aims at softening competition in water uses . increased sewage flow due to increased water supply +

. increased volume of sullage (wastewater from cooking and washing) + No any settlment covered by the Project has and sludge from wastewater treatment plant waste water treatment plant.

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Screening Questions Yes N/A No Remarks . large population influx during project construction and operation that + The project focused at reconstruction of causes increased burden on social infrastructure and services (such as existing systems, new cosial impacts are water supply and sanitation systems)? anticipated.

. social conflicts if workers from other regions or countries are hired? + Mainly local labor force will be involved

. risks to community health and safety due to the transport, storage, + If safety measures of explosives, fuels and and use and/or disposal of materials such as explosives, fuel and other chemicals used within the framework other chemicals during operation and construction? of the project are maintained, risks will be minimized. . community safety risks due to both accidental and natural hazards, + If safety measures of associated with the especially where the structural elements or components of the project transport, storage and use of explosives, fuel are accessible to members of the affected community or where their and other chemicals used within the failure could result in injury to the community throughout project framework of the project are maintained, construction, operation and decommissioning? community safety risks due to both accidental and natural hazards

Climate Change and Disaster Risk Questions Yes No Remarks The following questions are not for environmental categorization. They are included in this checklist to help identify potential climate and disaster risks.

 Is the Project area subject to hazards such as earthquakes, floods, + Armenia located in active tectonic zone with landslides, tropical cyclone winds, storm surges, tsunami or all possible consequences volcanic eruptions and climate changes (see Appendix I)?

. Could changes in temperature, precipitation, or extreme events + Decline of precipitations may cause decrease patterns over the Project lifespan affect technical or financial of water source discharge , which in its turn sustainability (e.g., changes in rainfall patterns disrupt reliability of will lead to disruption of sustainable water water supply; sea level rise creates salinity intrusion into proposed supply water supply source)?

. Are there any demographic or socio-economic aspects of the + Project area that are already vulnerable (e.g., high incidence of marginalized populations, rural-urban migrants, illegal settlements, ethnic minorities, women or children)?

. Could the Project potentially increase the climate or disaster + vulnerability of the surrounding area (e.g., by using water from a vulnerable source that is relied upon by many user groups, or encouraging settlement in earthquake zones)?

* Hazards are potentially damaging physical events.

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