HGSN – JINJ WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SECTOR PROJECT – ADDITIONAL FINANCING

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 C 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

Date of preparation- 21.03.13

IMPROVEMENT OF SETTLMENTS WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SYSTEMS

INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

SUBPROJECT II

Improvement of water supply systems in Ararat marz settlments: , Ararat and communities of Ararat, , , , Shahumyan, , Baghramyan, Byuravan, , Dalar, Dimitrov, , , , Sayat-Nova, Nizami, Sis, , , , , Berkanush of Ararat Marz

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HGSN – JINJ WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SECTOR PROJECT – ADDITIONAL FINANCING

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 SYSTEM ...... 4 5. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND CLIMATE OF THE SETTLEMENTS ...... 5 6. BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL SPECIAL PROTECTED AREAS ...... 6 7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT...... 7 7.1. Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist ...... 8

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HGSN – JINJ WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SECTOR PROJECT – ADDITIONAL FINANCING

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 the improvement of water supply systems of the following communities: Vedi and Ararat towns, Ararat, Aygezard, Verin Artashat, Mrganush, Shahumyan, Azatavan, Baghramyan, Byuravan, Burastan, Dalar, Dmitrov, Nshavan, Vosketap, Aygavan, Sayat-Nova, Nizami, Sis, Hovtashen, Mrgavan, Masis, Berkanush villages in the region of Ararat. Priority has been given to the improvement of water supply systems. Scope of works for improvement of water supply systems of Vedi, Ararat towns and 22 villages is as follows:

1 The number of towns and villages may change subject to further detailed assessments. Suibproject II – Preliminary design 3

HGSN – JINJ WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SECTOR PROJECT – ADDITIONAL FINANCING

 Reconstruction and construction of external piplines with polyethylene pipes of de50-de300 diameter and L=14330m total length.  Construction of polyethylene waterlines in the distribution network with de50-de160 diameters, L=195117m total length.  Construction of water metering units and entry lines of private houses with de20 polyethylene pipes for a total of 7885 consumers.  Construction of 64 valve units in total.  Construction of 133 buried valve junctions in total.  Construction of a pumping station, pressure tower and chlorination station. Population of Vedi and Ararat towns and Ararat, Aygezard, Verin Artashat, Mrganush, Shahumyan, Azatavan, Baghranyan, Byuravan, Burastan, Dalar, Dimitrov, Nshavan, Vosketap, Aygavan, Sayat-Nova, Nizami, Sis, Hovashat, Hovtashen, Mrgavan, Masis, Berkanush villages at the date of 01.01.2012 was 102521 people, 36600 of which reside in the towns. Total number of consumers is 23475, 16652 of which are the consumers of the village settlements. According to the data published by the §Demographic Handbook of Armenia 2012¦ the population is 0.43%: Due to the project implementation, it is planned to provide drinking and sustainable water supply to the consumers of the communities.

4. DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SYSTEM

The water supply and sewage systems of Vedi and Ararat towns and 16 villages are served by “Armwatersewerage” CJSC. Sayat-Nova, Nizami, Sis, Hovtashat, Hovtashen and Aygavan villages are supplied from artesian and deep wells; they haven’t got water supply systems. The water supply systems of 16 villages and Vedi and Ararat towns are fed from 2 groups of spring systems:  §Garni¦ springs  §Jermanis¦ springs There are 2 groups of catchment constructions distributed on “Garni” springs, from where the 3 conduits with de 600, de 500 and de 400 diameters begin. Outflowing from Garni gorge the conduits fill into the common water intake reservoir, where the chlorination of Garni springs common system is realized. Two main water supply systems start from Garni springs. These conduits feed the DRRs. The Germanis-Vedi conduit which is made from steel pipes with de 300 diameter, starts from the catchment constructions of “Geramanis” springs and reaches Vedi town. The decontamination of water is done in in the cloranation station with the capacity of 2X250 m3 in , which is situated in area of DRRs. The water supply distribution networks of Vedi, Ararat towns and the above mentioned villages, which are mainly from DN50-150 steel, de 65-160 cast iron and de 50-110 polyethylene pipes, are in exausted and

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HGSN – JINJ WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SECTOR PROJECT – ADDITIONAL FINANCING deteriorated state. There are big leakages-75-80%. The destribution systems are characterised by lack of water quantity and lack of pressure. The 80-90% of the households use private pumps situated in the yards, by the help of which the stored water recedes with necessary pressure into the entry lines of house connections, providing the necessary pressure and water quantity to the sanitary equipment. Many water supply systems haven’t got sanitary protection zone, no water disinfection is carried out, in some districts of the settlements distribution networks are missing. Among the investigated settlements there are sewage systems in Ararat, Verin Artashat, Burastan, Mrgavan villages, in Vedi and Ararat towns. There are half-constructed and emergency sections in the system. The rest of the villages are not sewaged. The majority of the population uses toilets built in the areas next to the houses, or sewage concrete wells. The sewage treatment plants do not operate. In the villages sewage is removed by open ditches, which is a pollution factor of the environment.

5. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND CLIMATE OF THE SETTLEMENTS

Among the communities covered by the subproject, Vedi and Ararat towns, and Ararat, Aygevard, Verin Artashat, Mrganush, Shahumyan, Azatavan, Baghramyan, Byuravan, Burastan, Dalar, Dimitrov, Nshavan, Vosketap, Aygavan, Sayat-Nova, Nizami, Sis, Hovtashat, Hovtashen, Mrgavan, Masis, Berkanush village communities belong to Ararat region. The area of the region of Ararat is 2096 km2. The centre of the region is town Artashat, which is 26km away from Yerevan. The area is characterized by warm and hot summers and cold no-storm winters. Monthly average temperature in July is 21C0, and in January the average temperature goes from 0 up to 5 ûC. Air absolute maximum temperature is 42ûC ¿, absolute minimum is 30ûC. Average annual precipitations vary between 238-348mm, and relative humidiy is 35%. The snow cover reaches 36 cm, and the pressure is 50 kg/m2. The ground freezing depth is 0.43m depending on the altitude. Winds in the western and and north- western directions with 0.8m/sec speed are dominant in the region. The observed area of Ararat region is situated in the southern part of Ararat valley, in the left-side valley of Araks river, including also the mountains adjacent to the valley. The area relief is formed by the accumulation of Araks River and its streams. From the geomorphological point of view the area borders the left bank of Araks river-valley in south-west, and in the southern low slopes of Urts mountains in the north-east, which are surrounded by low hill-ranges and not deep cavities. The geological structure consists of lake, river, torrent sediments of the late Pliocene and modern sediments presented by sand-pebble lime stones, marls. Thick layers of clay of Sarmatian stage are also spread mainly in cavities adjacent to Araks, which are covered by modern lake-aluvial-proluvial formations of various thickness. From the hydrogeological point of view the area is rich in ground water. Clays, situated on the water bearing sediments of rivers and lakes, serve as a waterproof for the horizon of ground water. They occur in differernt depths from 0-5 up to 100meters and more. The ground water horizon is spread in the plain area of the artesian Suibproject II – Preliminary design 5

HGSN – JINJ WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SECTOR PROJECT – ADDITIONAL FINANCING reservoir, where the settlements of this project are situated. In differents areas the ground water forms marshes and alkaline lands. In the area among the exogen geological phenomena there are surface erosion, deeppening and changing of riverbed in the ravines of permanent and temporaray streams as a result of atmospheric precipitations, technogen phenomena, etc. The area has got 0.3-0.4g acceleration and is situated in region of possible earthquakes of 9 scale.

6. BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL SPECIAL PROTECTED AREAS

In this region, semi-desert and hydromorphic dark soils and hydromorphic alkaline lands have been formed on carbonate accumulations brought by water and torrent (loamy sands, loams¤ in very dry continetal conditions. The investigated area from the vegitation-geographical point of view belongs to to Yerevan floristic region, which characterised by semi-desert and desert vegetation. It is obvious, that majority of the region are xeroflorous. But in the reservoirs, in drainage ditches and on the banks there are great number of hydroferrite.

The existing aquatic vegetation of the region is a result of drainage ditches and artificial water reservoir systems. Species of Rosaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, -Polygonaceae, and Brassicaceae are typical for this area with their diversity. Trees are missing, which is probably reasoned by the vicinity of the salty ground water and air dryness. Spieces recorded in the Red Book (2010) as in danger are Amberboa sosnovskyi Iljin., Halocnemum strobilaceum (Pall.) MB., Tamarix octandra Bunge. Although these species are big in number in the observed area, but in Armenia they are small in number. No endemics have been registered in the observed area of Armenia. According to the initial data, species of eatable, spicy, honey producing, pharmaceutical, forage, technical and ornamental siginificance are widely spread in the area. The observed area is situated in the semi-desert zone of alkaline lands, but it is surrounded with a net of artificial reservoirs, which provides considerable diversity to the fauna of the region. Five types of mollusks is possible to find among the invertebrats in this region- Zonitoides nitidus, Planorbis planorbis, Gyraulus acronicus, Pupilla signata, Euglesa casertana, among insects- representatives of Coenagrionidae and Libellulidae species. A section of alkaline semi-deserts has been preserved in the vicinty of the western border of the valley, which is covered by Aeluropus. This type of vegetation is a fodder crop for Araratyan Vordan Karmir insect (Porphyrophora hammelii Brandt). Araratyan Vordan Karmir is included in IPIU Red Book as species in critical condition. Among vertebrates two types of amphibians have been observed: green frog (Bufo /Pseudopedalia/ variabilis) and lake frog (Pelophilax ridibundus), which belong to the widely spread species in the area of the republic.

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Three types of reptiles Lacerta strigata, Natrix tesselata and Malpolon monspessulanus, which are widely spread and belong to the types of common species. 85 types of birds are spread in the region, including Ardea cinerea L, Ardeola ralloides Scop, Botaurus stellaris L, Ciconia ciconia L, Plegadis falcinellus L, Aquila nipalensis Hodgs., Charadrius hiaticula L, Pica pica L, Aythya fuligula L. Larus ridibundus L. etc. Among the species registered in the Red Book are Anthropoides virgo.L, Charadris alexsarinus L. Larus armenicus Buturlin, Pandion haliaetus, Anser anser L, Tadorna ferruginea Pall. Merops Superciliosus L. and Coracias garrulus L. In the region there are 22 types of mamals, including Erinaceus (Hemiechinus) auritus Gmelin, Myotis blythi Tomes, P. (P) kuhli Kuhl, Rhinolophus hipposiderus Bechst, Vulpes vulpes L., Canis aureus, Canis lupus L., Lutra lutra, L., Lepus europaeus Pall., Sus scrofa L., Meriones persicus Blanf. Cricetulus migratoris Pall. etc. The following types of mammals are registered in the Red Book of the republic Erinaceus (Hemiechinus) auritus Gmelin, Vormela peregusna Guldenstaedt, Allactaga elater Liichtenstein. 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 impelemented.

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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HGSN – JINJ WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SECTOR PROJECT – ADDITIONAL FINANCING

7.1. Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist

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

Sector division SUBPROJECT 1- RA Ararat Region - Vedi and Ararat towns, and Aararat, Aygezard, Verin Artashat, Mrganush, Shahumyan, Azatavan, Baghramyan, Byuravan, Burastan, Dalar, Dmitrov, Nshavan, Vosketap, Aygavan, Sayat- Nova,Nizami, Sis, Hovtashen, Mrgavan, Masis, Berkanush villages.

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 . cultural heritage site + heritage monuments, but the project does not deal with them + Khor-Virap monastery-fortress is situated . protected Area 6km away from Vosketap village + “Khor Virap” state reserved area, as a . wetland settlement for water birds, is situated 6 km away from Vosketap village. + . mangrove

+ . estuarine

+ . buffer zone of protected area

+ “ sandy terrain” reserved area is situated 1.5km away from Vedi town, and . special area for protecting biodiversity “Khosrov forest” state reserved area is situated 15km away from Vedi town. + . bay

A. Potential Environmental Impacts Will the Project cause… . pollution of raw water supply from upstream wastewater + water supply is foreseen from ground discharge from communities, industries, agriculture, and soil waters erosion runoff?

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HGSN – JINJ WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SECTOR PROJECT – ADDITIONAL FINANCING

Screening Questions Yes N/A No Remarks . impairment of historical/cultural monuments/areas and + Almost all settlements have cultural loss/damage to these sites? heritage monuments, but the project does not deal with them . hazard of land subsidence caused by excessive ground water + The design doesn’t foresee water intake pumping? that is why the implementation of the project cannot result in the settlement of the ground. . 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. . 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 + Water intake and wells included in the project of water supply? are equipped with fences and sanitary zones.

. over pumping of ground water, leading to salinization and ground + The design doesn’t foresee pumping of ground subsidence? water, that is why the implementation of the design cannot result insalinization and ground subsidence

. excessive algal growth in storage reservoir? +

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

. 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

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Screening Questions Yes N/A No Remarks . 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 distribution due to lack of adequate monitoring of chlorine residuals in system will be performed according to distribution systems? 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 settlement covered by the Project has and sludge from wastewater treatment plant waste water treatment plant

. 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 casual 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 of other chemicals during operation and construction? 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 volcanic all possible consequences eruptions and climate changes (see Appendix I)?

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

. 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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