Public Disclosure Authorized ESWATINI WATER SERVICES CORPORATION Public Disclosure Authorized DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDY FOR THE NHLANGANO - SIPHAMBANWENI WATER Public Disclosure Authorized SUPPLY AND SANITATION PROJECT Proponent Prepared by Public Disclosure Authorized Eswatini Water Services Corporation MTK Sustainable Technologies Emtfonjeni Building, Cultural Village Road Plot 753, Southern Distributor Road MR103 Road, Ezulwini, Swaziland Extension 7 Manzini P.O. Box 20 P.O Box 4019 Mbabane, H100 Manzini, M200 Tel: 2416 9000 Tel: 2505 8875 Fax: 2416 3616 July 2019 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR NHLANGANO – SIPHAMBANWENI INTEGRATED WATER SUPPLY PROJECT Table of Contents Project Proponent xi Details of the Environmental Consultant xii Structure of the Report xii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY XIII 1 INTRODUCTION 31 1.1 Context and Background 31 1.2 Rationale for the Project 31 1.3 Purpose of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) 32 1.4 Scope of the ESIA 33 1.5 Objective and Need for the Proposed Project 33 1.6 Project Development Objectives 34 1.7 Project Activities 34 1.7.1 Preconstruction Phase 34 1.7.2 Construction Phase Activities 34 1.7.3 Operational Phase (Distribution laterals and Kiosks) 35 1.8 Materials and Construction Equipment 35 1.9 Description of Proposed Reservoirs 36 1.10 Description of Proposed Pump house and Solar Power Supply 36 1.11 Description of Proposed Kiosks 36 1.12 Key Off-site Investments 38 1.13 Burrow pits and Spoil sites 38 2 STUDY METHODOLOGY 39 2.1 ESIA Process in Eswatini 39 2.2 Geographical Project Location 40 2.3 Initial Visit 42 2.4 Desktop study 42 2.5 Consultations 42 2.6 Field surveys 43 2.7 Specialist studies 43 2.7.1 Socio-Economic Impact Study 43 2.7.2 Ecological Assessment 45 2.7.3 Aesthetic/ Visual Assessment 45 2.7.4 Noise and Air quality 45 2.7.5 Water Quality Assessment 45 2.8 Institutional and Capacity Assessment 45 2.9 Evaluation of Impacts 46 2.9.1 Methodology of Assessment 46 Page | i DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR NHLANGANO – SIPHAMBANWENI INTEGRATED WATER SUPPLY PROJECT 3 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS 48 3.1 Eswatini Legal Framework 48 3.1.1 Environmental Management Act, No. 5 of 2002 48 3.1.2 Waste Regulations, 2000 48 3.1.3 Environmental Audit, Assessment and Review Regulations, 2000 48 3.1.4 Eswatini Environmental Screening Process 49 3.1.5 The ESIA report is a preliminary version prepared based on a desktop conceptual design of the project and will be finalized pending completion of feasibility studies and detailed design (s). Water Pollution Control Regulations, 2010 50 3.1.6 Air Pollution Control Regulations, 2010 50 3.1.7 Flora Protection Act, No. 10 of 2001 50 3.1.8 Factories, Machinery and Construction Works Act, 1972 50 3.1.9 The Water Act, No. 7 of 2003 50 3.1.10 The Eswatini Administration Order No. 6/1998 51 3.1.11 The Kingdom of Eswatini Constitution Act No.1/2005 51 3.1.12 The Eswatini National Trust Commission Act No.9 / 1972. 51 3.1.13 Occupational Health and Safety Act, 2001 51 3.1.14 Public Health Act, 1969 51 3.1.15 The Water Services Act, 1992 51 3.1.16 Construction Industry Council Act, 2013 52 3.1.17 Standard Building Act and Regulations of 1969 52 3.1.18 Human Settlements Authority Act of 1988 52 3.1.19 The Forests Preservation Act no 28 of 1910 52 3.1.20 Acquisition of Property Act, 1961 52 3.2 Land Administration in Eswatini 54 3.3 Relevant National Policies 54 3.3.1 Gender equity 54 3.3.2 Poverty Reduction Strategy and action Plan, 2006 54 3.3.3 Draft National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, 2014 55 3.3.4 National Water Policy (draft) 2011 55 3.3.5 Fresh Water Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy in Eswatini, 2011 55 3.3.6 National Development Strategy, 1997 55 3.4 International Laws 55 3.4.1 UN (Rio) Convention on Biological Diversity 56 3.4.2 Convention on International Trade Against Endangered Species (CITES) 56 3.4.3 The Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands 56 3.4.4 Kyoto Protocol 56 3.4.5 The 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 56 3.4.6 Convention on the Rights of the Child 57 3.4.7 International Labour Organization 57 3.4.8 Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women 58 3.5 World Bank Environmental and Social Framework 58 3.6 Environment, Health and Safety Guidelines 59 Page | ii DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR NHLANGANO – SIPHAMBANWENI INTEGRATED WATER SUPPLY PROJECT 3.6.1 The General EHS Guidelines 59 3.7 Description of World Bank Environmental and Social Standards 61 3.8 Alignment of WB and Eswatini Legislation Relevant to ESIA 89 4 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 90 4.1 Location of the Project Area 90 4.2 Proposed Project Outline 91 4.2.1 Introduction 91 4.2.2 Existing Water Treatment Plant 91 4.2.3 Main pipeline 96 4.2.4 Proposed Main Laterals 97 4.2.5 Existing and Proposed Reservoirs 99 4.2.6 Nhlangano Network Extensions 102 4.2.7 Solar Power Supply 104 4.2.8 Electricity costs for Pumping station 105 4.2.9 Kiosks 107 4.3 Capacity Requirements and Design Guidelines 108 4.3.1 Total Daily Water Consumption in Litres 108 4.3.2 Pipeline Design Parameters 109 4.3.3 Other Relevant design considerations 109 4.4 Equipment and Materials 110 4.5 Project Activities 110 4.5.1 Pre-construction Phase 110 4.5.2 Construction phase 111 4.5.3 Operational phase 112 4.5.4 Decommissioning 112 4.6 Land Take and Land Acquisition 112 4.6.1 Transmission Line and laterals 117 4.6.2 Reservoirs and access roads 117 4.6.3 Pump House and Solar Power Supply 117 4.7 Project Timelines 119 4.8 Spoil and Quarry sites 120 4.9 Burrow sites 120 4.10 Site Access 120 4.11 Schedule for Implementation and Workforce 120 4.12 Workforce 120 5 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES 122 5.1 Site selection alternatives 122 5.1.1 Development of Nhlangano- Siphambanweni Integrated water supply 122 5.1.2 Development of the project in a different area 122 5.2 Technology alternatives 123 5.2.1 Extend Coverage and Allow the System to be able to Transmit Water in both Directions Between the Existing Treatment Plants 123 Page | iii DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR NHLANGANO – SIPHAMBANWENI INTEGRATED WATER SUPPLY PROJECT 5.2.2 Use of gravity from Nhlangano to Siphambanweni 123 5.3 Sources of water supply for the project 123 5.3.1 Ground water 123 5.3.2 Rainwater harvesting 123 5.3.3 Use of Mkhondvo River 123 5.4 Power supply alternatives 124 5.4.1 Connecting to the EEC grid 124 5.4.2 Establishment of a solar plant 124 5.5 No Project Alternative 124 5.6 Preferred alternative for water supply system 124 5.7 Alternative Transmissions 124 5.8 Alternatives for Pipeline Route 125 5.9 Alternatives for Materials 125 6 DESCRIPTION OF THE BASELINE ENVIRONMENT 127 6.1 Land Use 127 6.1.1 Surrounding Land use 128 6.2 Geology and Soils 129 6.3 Climate and Climate Change Patterns 130 6.3.1 Climate of Eswatini 130 6.3.2 Climate of Nhlangano 130 6.3.3 Average Monthly Rainfall of Nhlangano 130 6.4 Topography 133 6.5 Biodiversity 134 6.5.1 Flora 134 6.5.2 Fauna 135 6.6 Water Resources 136 6.6.1 Hydrology 136 6.6.2 Water Quality 139 6.7 Noise 140 6.8 Roads 140 6.9 Existing Water Supply Schemes 142 6.9.1 Functionality and Distribution status of Existing RWSS 142 6.9.2 Socio Economic Baseline 143 6.9.3 Background 143 6.9.4 National level 144 6.9.5 Regional Level 145 6.9.6 Targeted Tinkhundla Level 146 6.9.7 Baseline survey on Project Area 147 6.9.8 Vulnerabilities 156 6.10 Heritage 157 6.10.1 Archaeological interest 157 Page | iv DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR NHLANGANO – SIPHAMBANWENI INTEGRATED WATER SUPPLY PROJECT 6.10.2 Graves 157 6.10.3 Monuments 157 6.11 Crime 157 6.12 Facilities 160 6.12.1 Health 160 6.12.2 Utilities 163 6.12.3 Emergency services 163 7 OVERVIEW OF THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS 164 7.1 Scoping phase stakeholder engagements 165 7.1.1 Initial Stakeholder Consultations 165 7.2.1 Site Notices 168 7.2.2 Advertising 169 7.4 Issues Raised during Consultations 170 7.5 Focus Group Discussions 177 7.5.1 Women 177 7.5.2 Rural Health Motivators 180 7.5.3 Traditional Authorities 182 7.6 Disclosure 184 8 DESCRIPTION OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS 185 8.1 Positive/Beneficial Impacts 185 8.1.1 Construction Phase 185 8.1.2 Operation Phase 186 8.2 Adverse Impacts 188 8.2.1 Construction Phase 188 8.2.2 Operational Phase 191 8.2.3 Construction Phase Impact Evaluation 194 8.2.4 Operational Phase Impact Evaluation 199 9 IMPACT MANAGEMENT 203 9.1 Construction Phase Mitigations 203 9.1.1 Site Establishment Mitigations 203 9.1.2 Land acquisition impacts mitigations 203 9.1.3 Land use change 203 9.1.4 Increased invasion by alien weeds 203 9.1.5 Depletion of water resources 204 9.1.6 Water Pollution 204 9.1.7 Loss of Flora and vegetation cover 204 9.1.8 Soil Erosion and Contamination 205 9.1.9 Community Health and Safety 205 9.1.10 Access Impacts 205 9.1.11 Changes in Population Dynamics 205 9.1.12 Gender Based Violence 205 9.1.13 Child labour 206 Page | v DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR NHLANGANO – SIPHAMBANWENI INTEGRATED WATER SUPPLY PROJECT 9.1.14 Security Impacts 206 9.1.15 Blasting Impacts 206 9.1.16 Pump house Impacts 206 9.1.17 Occupational Health and Safety 206 9.1.18 Atmosphere and Aesthetics 206 9.1.19 Emissions 207 9.1.20 Noise 207 9.1.21 Loss of archaeological and heritage Impacts 207 9.1.22 Aesthetics Impacts 207 9.1.23 Waste Impacts 207 9.1.24 Disruption of Services 207 9.2 Operational Phase Mitigations 207 9.3 Summary of Mitigation Measures 212 10 ESMP 224 10.1 ESMP Monitoring