ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM IN VILUFUSHI, THAA ATOLL July 2016 Prepared for Ministry of Environment and Energy Consultant CDE Consulting, Maldives ެގުމުރުކ ިއަލްޕަސ ިއަދްއަފުއ ްނެފޯބ ިއަގީށުފުލިވ.ތ ްނިއުޢޫރްޝަމ ެގުމުރުކްމިއާގ ްމާޒިނ ްޓޯޕިރ ާރުކްނާޔަބ ުރަވްނިމ ެނާރުކުރަސައ ްށަޓްއެވާމިތ ިއަލުޖ 2016 ިއަލުޖ :ުރާޔިދެއ ެގުޢޫރްޝަމ ީޖރަނެއ ްޑްނެއ ްޓްނަމަރަޔަވްނެއ ްފޮއ ީރްޓްސިނިމ :ްޓްނަޓްލަސްނޮކ ޭއ.ިއައ.ީއ ެގުޢޫރްޝަމ ްޑެޓިމިލ ްޑެޓިމިލ ްޓެވިއަރްޕ ީއ.ީޑ.ީސ EIA for the proposed Water Supply System in Vilufushi, Thaa Atoll Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. i List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ vi List of tables .................................................................................................................................. vii List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................... viii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ ix Lead Consultant’s Declaration ........................................................................................................ x Proponent’s Declaration................................................................................................................. xi Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... xii 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose of the EIA ........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project Title ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Project Proponent ............................................................................................................. 1 1.4 Project Scope summary .................................................................................................... 1 1.5 Project tasks completed .................................................................................................... 2 1.6 Project Location ............................................................................................................... 2 1.7 Project Rationale .............................................................................................................. 5 1.8 Consultants, Contractors and Government Institutions.................................................... 6 1.9 Project Financing.............................................................................................................. 6 The project is financed by the government of the Maldives. ...................................................... 6 1.10 Scope and Terms of Reference of EIA ............................................................................. 6 1.11 Summary of Assessment Methodology............................................................................ 7 1.11.1 The Study Area.............................................................................................................. 8 1.11.2 Field Observations ....................................................................................................... 9 1.11.3 Desk Study Review ...................................................................................................... 11 1.11.4 Public and Key Stakeholder Consultation .................................................................. 12 1.11.5 Data Analysis .............................................................................................................. 12 1.11.6 Report Format ............................................................................................................ 12 1.12 Study Team Members .................................................................................................... 12 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................... 13 2.1 Project Outline and Project Site Plan ............................................................................. 13 2.2 Detailed Project Outline and Work Methodology.......................................................... 17 2.2.1 Scope of Works ........................................................................................................... 17 Prepared by: CDE Consulting Page|i EIA for the proposed Water Supply System in Vilufushi, Thaa Atoll 2.2.2 Site Preparation .......................................................................................................... 17 2.2.3 Mobilization of equipment .......................................................................................... 17 2.2.4 Design Considerations ............................................................................................... 18 2.2.5 Concept of RO plant and Rainwater Harvesting System ............................................ 20 2.3 Project Schedule and Life Span ..................................................................................... 33 2.4 Labour Requirements ..................................................................................................... 33 2.4.1 Construction Waste Management and Disposal ........................................................ 34 2.4.2 Pollution and Emission Control Measures ................................................................. 34 2.4.3 Sediment Containment and Turbidity Control Measures ........................................... 34 2.4.4 Health and Safety Measures ....................................................................................... 34 2.4.5 Utilities ....................................................................................................................... 35 2.4.6 Labour Camps ............................................................................................................ 35 2.4.7 Equipment and Materials Storage .............................................................................. 35 2.5 Summary of Project Inputs and Outputs ........................................................................ 36 2.6 Demobilization ............................................................................................................... 37 2.7 Maintenance during Operation Phase ............................................................................ 37 3 POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK .............................................................................. 38 3.1 Relevant Environment Legislation ................................................................................. 38 3.1.1 Environment Protection and Preservation Act (Act no. 4/93).................................... 38 3.1.2 Maldivian Land Act (Law no. 1/2002)........................................................................ 39 1.2 Relevant Regulations and Guidelines ............................................................................ 40 3.1.3 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2012 ................................................ 40 3.1.4 Desalination Systems Regulation ............................................................................... 41 3.1.5 Maldives Building Code ............................................................................................. 41 3.1.6 Waste Management Regulation 2013 ......................................................................... 41 3.1.7 The Environmental Liability Regulation (Regulation 2011/R-9) ............................... 42 3.1.8 Guidelines and Manual for Rainwater Harvesting the Maldives 2009 ...................... 43 3.1.9 Compliance ................................................................................................................. 43 3.2 Environmental Permits Required for the Project ........................................................... 43 3.2.1 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Decision Note ........................................... 43 3.2.2 Desalination plant registration permit ....................................................................... 44 3.3 Responsible Institutions ................................................................................................. 44 3.3.1 Ministry of Environment and energy .......................................................................... 44 3.3.2 Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure...................................................................... 44 1.2.1 Atoll Council ............................................................................................................... 44 3.4 Guiding Policies and Documents ................................................................................... 45 Prepared by: CDE Consulting Page|ii EIA for the proposed Water Supply System in Vilufushi, Thaa Atoll 3.4.1 Guidelines and Manual for Rainwater Harvesting in the Maldives 2009 .................. 45 3.4.2 National Environmental Action Plan II (NEAP II) .................................................... 45 3.4.3 National Waste Management Policy 2015 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