Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 51132-002 October 2020 GEO: Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Development Program Improvement of Telavi Water Supply System Prepared by United Water Supply Company of Georgia LLC of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia for the Asian Development Bank. This initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section on ADB’s website. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Final Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 51132-002 GEO: Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Development Program Georgia: Improvement of Telavi Water Supply System INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (IEE) Prepared by “United Water Supply Company of Georgia” LLC of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia for the Asian Development Bank Prepared in November 2017 Updated in October 2020 This initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section of this website. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. ABBREVIATIONS ADB - Asian Development Bank CA - Cross section area CC - Civil Contractor DC - Design Consultant EA - Executing Agency EIA - Environmental Impact Assessment EIP - Environmental Impact Permit EMP - Environmental Management Plan GoG - Government of Georgia GRC - Grievance Redress Mechanism IA - Implementing Agency IEE - Initial Environmental Examination IP - Investment Program IPMO - Investment Program Management Office kg - Kilogram km - Kilometre lpcd - Litres per Capita per Day M - Metre mg/l - milligram per litre mm - Millimetre MoRDI - Ministry of Regional Development & Infrastructure of Georgia MoE - Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia SSEMP - Site Specific Environmental Management Plan PS - Pumping Station SDP - Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Development Program USIIP - Urban Services Improvement Investment Program UWSCG - United Water Supply Company of Georgia WS - Water Supply WWTP - Waste Water treatment Plant Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................... 6 A. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 1 A.1 General .......................................................................................................................................... 1 A.2 Background .................................................................................................................................... 1 A.3 Purpose of the Report ................................................................................................................... 2 A.4.Category of Project ........................................................................................................................ 2 A.5. Project Proponent......................................................................................................................... 2 A.7. Methodology applied ................................................................................................................... 3 B. POLICY, LEGAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ..................................................................... 5 B.1. General .......................................................................................................................................... 5 ADB Policy ............................................................................................................................................ 5 B.1.2 Environmental Regulations and Standards ............................................................................... 15 B.1.2.3.Vibration Standards ........................................................................................................... 19 Surface Water Quality Standards ................................................................................................... 22 Sanitary Wastewater ...................................................................................................................... 24 B.1.3.Licenses & Approvals Required............................................................................................. 25 B.2 ADB Policy .................................................................................................................................... 25 B.3.1 Harmonization of the ADB and Georgian Legislation Requirements ................................... 31 C. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT ................................................................................................................. 32 C.1. Background ................................................................................................................................. 32 C.2. Need for the Project ................................................................................................................... 32 C.7. Land Acquisition ...................................................................................................................... 51 C.8. Access Roads ........................................................................................................................... 51 C.9. Construction Activities ................................................................................................................ 51 C.9.1. Methods to accomplish main works .................................................................................... 51 C.9.2. Earthworks ........................................................................................................................... 51 C.9.3. Concrete works (Monolithic foundations, frames of buildings) .......................................... 52 C.9.4 Site selection of sources of materials ................................................................................... 53 D. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................................. 55 E. DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENT (BASELINE DATA) .......................................................................... 56 F. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ........................................ 84 F.1 Summary of Activities and Anticipated Impacts .......................................................................... 84 F.3 Construction Phase ..................................................................................................................... 93 F.14 Existing Asbestos Pipes ............................................................................................................. 93 F.4 Air Quality .................................................................................................................................... 94 E.4.1 Noise, Dust and Vibration .................................................................................................... 94 F.8 Traffic......................................................................................................................................... 103 F.9 Other Wastes from Construction Activities ........................................................................... 104 F.9.1 Construction Waste ............................................................................................................ 104 F.9.2 Inert Waste ......................................................................................................................... 105 F.9.3 Municipal Waste ................................................................................................................. 105 F.9.4 Hazardous construction wastes ......................................................................................... 106 F.9.5 Medical Waste .................................................................................................................... 106 F.10 Impacts on Archaeological Sites ............................................................................................... 107 F.11 Socio-Cultural Resources .......................................................................................................... 108 F.12 Construction Yards ................................................................................................................... 109 F.13 Construction Related Impacts at the Quarrying Sites .............................................................. 110 F.14 Existing Asbestos Pipes ...........................................................................................................