E4224v2 Republic of Albania Public Disclosure Authorized Ministry of Public Works and Transport Water Project Implementation Unit Albania Water Sector Investment Project PHRD Grant No TF093096-AL Consultant Services for Preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Environmental Impact Assessment Report Draft for consultation May 2013 Public Disclosure Authorized 1 SUMMARY SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................................................... 5 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... 8 Policy, legislation and administrative framework ............................................................................................. 8 Objectives and summary description of the proposed project ........................................................................... 8 Impacts of Project Component 1 - Priority Water Supply Investments......................................................... 9 Socio-economic environment .................................................................................................................... 9 Summary of the Main Environmental impacts ........................................................................................ 10 Analysis of project alternatives ................................................................................................................ 14 Conclusions of the draft EIA report in respect to water supply component ............................................ 14 Project Component 2: Wastewater Investments .............................................................................................. 15 Description of the Project Area................................................................................................................ 16 Expected Impacts of the Wastewater Component ................................................................................... 16 Analysis of alternatives and their impact on the environment ................................................................. 17 Conclusions of the EIA in respect to wastewater component .................................................................. 17 2 POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ............................................................ 18 2.1 The legal and institutional framework .................................................................................................. 18 2.1.1 General legislation on the Environment .................................................................................... 18 2.1.2 Legislation on Water Management ............................................................................................ 19 2.1.3 Legislation on Environmental Impact assessment and Environmental Permitting ................... 20 2.1.4 INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS FOR WATER PROTECTION AND ADMINISTRATION .... 21 2.1.5 World Bank EIA Requirements and applicable OPs. ................................................................ 22 3 OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT ......................... 25 3.1 Previous World Bank projects .............................................................................................................. 25 3.2 The Present Project ............................................................................................................................... 25 3.3 Studies funded under the present project .............................................................................................. 26 3.4 The proposed infrastructures................................................................................................................. 27 3.4.1 Project Component 1 - Priority Water Supply Investments....................................................... 27 3.4.2 Project Component 2 - Wastewater Investments ....................................................................... 27 4 PROJECT COMPONENT 1- PRIORITY WATER SUPPLY INVESTMENTS (WELLFIELDS, PIPELINE, BULK RESERVOIRS)................................................................................................................. 29 4.1 Description of Project Component 1- Priority water supply ................................................................ 29 4.1.1 The Fushe Milot Wellfield ......................................................................................................... 29 4.1.2 The Pumping Station.................................................................................................................. 30 4.1.3 The Main Transmission Pipeline ............................................................................................... 32 4.1.4 The Bulk reservoirs .................................................................................................................... 32 4.2 The socio-economic context ................................................................................................................. 34 4.2.1 Water demand in the Durres region ........................................................................................... 35 2 4.2.2 Water Demand in the Rural Area............................................................................................... 37 4.2.3 Social impact of the project ....................................................................................................... 38 5 RISK ANALYSIS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS .................................................................... 40 5.1 Water resources ..................................................................................................................................... 40 5.1.1 Hydrology .................................................................................................................................. 40 5.1.2 Aquifer and Groundwater .......................................................................................................... 44 5.1.3 The expected impacts during the construction phase ................................................................ 51 5.1.4 The expected impacts during the project’s life .......................................................................... 51 5.1.5 The investigations considered as necessary before project implementation ............................. 52 5.2 Geological and soil system ................................................................................................................... 52 5.2.1 Geology and lithology................................................................................................................ 52 5.2.2 Soil pollution and solid wastes .................................................................................................. 53 5.2.3 The expected impacts during the construction phase ................................................................ 53 5.2.4 The expected impacts during the project’s groundwater extraction phase ................................ 54 5.3 Natural habitats ..................................................................................................................................... 54 5.3.1 The investigations considered necessary before project implementation .................................. 56 5.3.2 The expected impacts during the construction phase ................................................................ 57 5.3.3 The expected impacts during the project’s life .......................................................................... 57 5.4 Air quality ............................................................................................................................................. 60 5.4.1 Sources of atmospheric pollution and their potential impact on the project area. ..................... 60 5.4.2 The investigations considered as necessary before project implementation ............................. 61 5.4.3 The expected impacts during the construction phase ................................................................ 61 5.4.4 The expected impacts during the project’s life .......................................................................... 61 5.5 Climate change...................................................................................................................................... 62 5.5.1 Rainfall ....................................................................................................................................... 62 5.5.2 Sea Level Rise and Coastal Erosion .......................................................................................... 64 5.5.3 The investigations considered as necessary before project implementation. ............................ 65 5.5.4 The expected impacts during the construction phase ................................................................ 66 5.5.5 The expected impacts during the project’s life .......................................................................... 66 5.6 Physical cultural resources .................................................................................................................... 67 5.6.1 Archaeological areas and historical buildings ..........................................................................