Ministry of Environment and Energy Environmental Impact Assessment Development of Sewerage System at Hithadhoo, Addu City Report Prepared by LaMer Pvt Ltd: Hussein Zahir Shahama Abdul Sattar Mohamed Aslam Proponents Name: Ministry of Environment and Energy Prepared for: Male’ Water Sewerage Company (MWSC) Pvt Ltd April 2017 Land and Marine Environmental Resources Group Pvt Ltd, Maldives Table of contents Consultants Declaration ............................................................................................................... viii Details of consultants participate in preparation of EIA report ..................................................... ix Proponents Declaration and Commitment letter ............................................................................. x 1 Non-technical Summary ......................................................................................................... xii 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................. xii 1.2 Key impacts, mitigation measures and alternatives .................................................... xii ުފަރާޢަތ ...................................................................................................................................... xiv xiv ............................. ތިމާވެއްޓަށް ކޮށްފާނެ އަސަރު، އަދި މިއަސަރު ކުޑަކުރުމަށް އެޅިދާނެ ފިޔަވަޅުތަކާއި ބަދަލުގައި ކުރެވިދާނެ ކަންތައް 2 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 2-17 2.1 Purpose of the report and need for the EIA ............................................................. 2-17 3 Terms of Reference (ToR) ................................................................................................... 3-19 4 Project Setting...................................................................................................................... 4-20 5 Project Description .............................................................................................................. 5-23 5.1 Project Proponent ..................................................................................................... 5-23 5.2 The Project ............................................................................................................... 5-23 5.2.1 Wastewater collection and disposal system...................................................... 5-23 5.3 Need for the Project ................................................................................................. 5-24 5.4 Location and Extent of Site Boundaries .................................................................. 5-24 5.5 Construction phase and schedule of implementation ............................................... 5-25 5.6 Major Inputs and Outputs ........................................................................................ 5-26 5.6.1 Inputs ................................................................................................................ 5-26 5.6.2 Operation and Maintenance Requirements ....................................................... 5-36 5.6.3 Outputs (development concept and built environment) ................................... 5-37 5.7 Waste management during the construction work ................................................... 5-38 5.7.1 Solid waste ........................................................................................................ 5-38 5.8 Emergency plans ...................................................................................................... 5-38 5.8.1 Emergency Storage ........................................................................................... 5-38 5.8.2 Emergency overflow systems ........................................................................... 5-38 5.8.3 Emergency power supply ................................................................................. 5-38 6 Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 6-39 6.1 Marine Survey .......................................................................................................... 6-39 6.2 Water quality analysis .............................................................................................. 6-40 6.2.1 Seawater ............................................................................................................ 6-40 6.2.2 Groundwater ..................................................................................................... 6-40 ii 6.3 Terrestrial vegetation survey .................................................................................... 6-42 7 Existing environment ........................................................................................................... 7-43 7.1 Geographic location and geomorphological setting of Hithadhoo .......................... 7-43 7.2 Climatology and oceanography ............................................................................... 7-44 7.2.1 Temperature ...................................................................................................... 7-44 7.2.2 Rainfall ............................................................................................................. 7-44 7.2.3 Wind climate ..................................................................................................... 7-45 7.2.4 Tide ................................................................................................................... 7-47 7.2.5 Wave and current .............................................................................................. 7-50 7.3 Marine surveys ......................................................................................................... 7-53 7.3.1 Coral Community ............................................................................................. 7-53 7.3.2 Reef fish community ........................................................................................ 7-55 7.4 Seawater quality ....................................................................................................... 7-57 7.5 Terrestrial environment ............................................................................................ 7-58 7.5.1 Vegetation survey ............................................................................................. 7-58 7.5.2 Groundwater ..................................................................................................... 7-65 7.6 Shoreline .................................................................................................................. 7-67 7.7 Existing sewerage infrastructure .............................................................................. 7-70 7.8 Marine Protected Areas ............................................................................................ 7-70 7.9 Socioeconomic environment .................................................................................... 7-71 7.9.1 Demography ..................................................................................................... 7-71 7.9.2 Economic activities, income situation and distribution .................................... 7-71 7.9.3 Land use planning, natural resource use and zoning of activities at sea .......... 7-72 7.9.4 Accessibility and transport to other islands ...................................................... 7-72 7.9.5 Services quality and accessibility ..................................................................... 7-72 7.10 Hazard Vulnerability, Area vulnerable to flooding and storm surge ................... 7-73 8 Stakeholder consultation...................................................................................................... 8-77 8.1 Consultation with Addu City Council ...................................................................... 8-77 8.2 FENAKA Corporation Ltd ...................................................................................... 8-77 8.3 Ministry of Environment and Energy ...................................................................... 8-78 8.4 Environment Protection Agency (EPA) ................................................................... 8-79 8.5 Health Protection Agency (HPA) ............................................................................ 8-80 8.6 Male Water and Sewerage Company Pvt Ltd (MWSC) .......................................... 8-81 8.7 Outcomes of meetings .............................................................................................. 8-81 9 Environmental Impacts ........................................................................................................ 9-82 9.1 Impact Identification ................................................................................................ 9-82 9.2 Limitation or uncertainty of impact prediction ........................................................ 9-84 iii 9.3 Constructional Impacts ............................................................................................ 9-84 9.3.1 Mobilization of Equipment and Labour ........................................................... 9-84 9.3.2 Impacts on Groundwater .................................................................................. 9-85 9.3.3 Impact on marine habitat and ecology .............................................................. 9-85 9.3.4 Impact