E869 Volume 1 Islamic Republic of Iran Ministry of Energy National Water and Wastewater Engineering Company Public Disclosure Authorized SHIRAZ WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER PROJECT PHRD NO: TF026482 Public Disclosure Authorized Environmental Assessment (Final Report) Lar Consulting Engineers in collaboration with Iran Ab Consulting Public Disclosure Authorized Engineers No. 23, Sharifi Street Tehran North of Vanak Square Islamic Republic of Iran Vali-asr Avenue Tehran 19699 Islamic Republic of Iran March 2004 Public Disclosure Authorized FILE COPYeZ t9 ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN MINISTRY OF ENERGY SHIRAZ WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (FINAL) March 2004 1 ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN SHIRAZ WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PROJECT DESCRIPTION POLICY, LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT BASELINE INFORMATION IMPACTS OF THE PROJECTS ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (EMP) * Mitigation of Adverse Environmental Impacts * Monitoring Plan * Institutional Strengthening * Cost Estimate PUBLIC CONSULTATION 2 ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN SHIRAZ WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS BOD Biochemical Oxygen Demand DOE Department of Environment EA Environmental Assessment EHC Environmental High Council ESO Environmental and Safety Officer EMP Environmental Management Plan EU European Union FAO Food and Agriculture Organization MOAJ Ministry of Agriculture Jihad MOE Ministry of Energy MOHME Ministry of health and Medical Education NGO Non-Governmental Organization OP Operational Policy PMU Project Management Unit QA/QC Quality Assurance and Quality Control SWWC Shiraz Water and Wastewater Company TOR Terms of Reference WB World Bank WHO World Health Organization WTP Water Treatment Plant WTPO Water Treatment Plant Operator WWTO Wastewater Treatment Operator WWTP Wastewater Treatment Plant 3 Introduction Problems such as the present unreliable water supply systems, the inconsistent quality of drinking water, the poor performance of water distribution networks and the lack of adequate wastewater collection and treatment systems coupled with rapid growth of population and expansion of urban centres has prompted the Government of Iran to consider water supply and sanitation projects as a high priority. Among others currently under development, the Shiraz Water Supply and Sanitation Project is being developed by the Iranian Ministrv of Energy to provide adequate water supply and sewerage systems for the city of Shiraz. Shiraz is the capital of Fars province and is located at approximately 925 km to the south of Tehran. The present population is about 1,200,000 and is projected to reach 1,950,000 by the year 2027. Shiraz has a rich historical heritage and is close to Persepolis, the most important archeological site of the country. It is estimated that more than 99% of the inhabitants of Shiraz are currently connected to the city's water supply network. Water quality monitoring indicates that the water supply is of acceptable quality and in compliance with national and WHO standards. Chemical, physical and bacteriological analyses are conducted on a daily basis at various points including water sources, storage reservoirs and distribution network. The major problems raised by the Water and Wastewater Company is the high percentage of unaccounted for water (around 30%) and the need to rehabilitate a considerable portion of the network. Rehabilitation of the network has been initiated but is proceeding at a very slow rate due to limited financial resources. Other problems identified by the Water and Wastewater Company are the relatively low water quality of Alluvial ground water sources that have high levels of hardness and nitrates, and the insufficient water pressure in some zones of the distribution network. Similar to other cities, wastewater collection, treatment and disposal are the main environmental concern in Shiraz. At present only 8% of the population is connected to the wastewater collection system. Due to the high water table and low soil permeability, the use of existing seepage pits has been unsatisfactory causing groundwater contamination. A great part of the wastewater is discharged in the seasonal rivers of the city or in open drainage channels that run along the roads adjacent to the residential areas. During the dry periods, the channels become open wastewater collectors emitting noxious odors, attracting mosquitoes and affecting the health of the residents. The wastewater collected by the existing sewers is conveyed along Khoshk River that divides the city in two parts and ultimately discharges in Maharloo Lake. The impact of wastewater on public health is considered to be less than that experienced in other cities yet water related diseases such as cholera and gastro enteritis are being reported by the health centers of the city and have been attributed mainly to the irrigation of raw eaten vegetables with untreated wastewater. It was also reported that around 21 wells have been decommissioned 4 due to contamination, mainly in areas where groundwater is relatively high. In order to improve public health conditions and to reduce the contamination of the water resources, the Water and Wastewater Company has started implementing a wastewater system for the whole city. The objectives of the Shiraz Water and Sanitation Project are: (a) improving access of the residents to adequate water supply; (b) providing satisfactory wastewater collection and treatment; (c) improving health conditions of targeted population; (d) reducing surface and ground water pollution, improving environmental conditions and promoting reuse of treated effluents; (e) strengthening and developing the capacity of Shiraz Water and Wastewater Company (SWWC) into a fully autonomous entity to be operated on a commercial basis. The execution of the project will have positive environmental impacts in terms of reducing pollution of natural resources, generation of significant economical, social and public health benefits, and will facilitate the enforcement of existing environmental regulations and standards by the government. Potential negative impacts from the proposed project are mainly related to the construction phase of the project, and are thus of temporary nature. Other negative impacts that might arise from the project will be mitigated through appropriate measures. The present report summarizes the findings of the environmental assessment study that was conducted and the environmental management plan that will be adopted for the project. Project Description The feasibility study for Shiraz water and wastewater management has been prepared to meet the study area requirements up to the year 2027. The study covered the city boundaries established by the Shiraz Master Plan with a total area of 22,075 ha (6,760 ha in the Emergency Zone and 15,315 ha in the Long Term Zone) having a forecast total population of 1,944,860 (583,460 in the Emergency Zone and 1,361,400 in the Long Term Zone) in the year 2027. The required works for water and wastewater will be completed over three phases, with phase one from year 2003 to year 2007, phase two from year 2008 to year 2017, and phase three from year 2018 to year 2027. The Shiraz Water and Sanitation Project will cover works to be included in the first phase defined by the feasibility (2003 to 2007). 5 Water supply: At present 99% of the City's population is served by the water supply network. The total water demand of the city is 288,600 m3/day and is expected to reach 474,400 m3/day by the year 2027. The current water demands are supplied from surface and ground water resources. Surface water is provided from the Douroudzam dam located 100 km north-west of Shiraz. The quantity of water that is currently transferred from the Dam is about 71,700 m3/day, representing 25% of the present water demand of the city, and is being increased by the Fars Regional Water Board to reach 155,500 m3/day by the year 2005. The existing water treatment plant utilizes a conventional water treatment scheme which includes: flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and chlorination. The remaining supply of the city's water is provided from 69 ground water wells which supply 261,800 m3/day. Out of the total number of operating wells, there are 16 wells that are located in the Alluvium aquifer inside the city while the others are located in the Karstic aquifer. Wells located in the alluvium aquifer supply only 40,600 m3/day of extremely hard water and will be soon put out of service. As part of the proposed project, the following water works will be executed: * Drilling and equipping of 17 new wells tapping Kerstin water resources. Total water abstracted by these wells amounts to 82,000 m3/d; * Laying of 34 km GRP transmission pipelines feeding distribution system and transmitting water from wells to reservoirs. Diameters range between 500-1200 mm; * Rehabilitation and extension of the water network including installation of pressure reducing valves. Diameters range between 200-400 mm with a total length of 235 km of PE pipes; * Construction of four concrete reservoirs Sonboleh (7500m3 ), Abeverdi (300 m3), R8 (20,000m3), and R20 as well as construction of two pumping stations. Wastewater: Shiraz is divided into two major drainage zones, referred to as Emergency Drainage Zone and Long Term Zone with drainage areas of 6,760 and 15,315 hectares, respectively. The Present generated wastewater volume is around 206,600 m3 /d (64,500 m3 /d in the emergency zone and 139,100 m3 /d in the long-term zone) and is expected to reach 363,850 m3 /d (115,750 m3 /d in the emergency zone and 248,100 m3 /d in the long-term zone) by the year 2027. The wastewater management system has been designed for the year 2027 and includes around 3000 km of collection mains and trunk lines and two secondary treatment plants referred to as the Emergency plant and the Long Term plant. The necessity for two treatment plants is not related to the urgency of implementing treatment works, but rather to the fact that the city is divided into two drainage zones.